Even without a permanent presence in the Baltics, NATO troops have been conducting military exercises throughout the region since the Crimea military operation. Western leaders shy away from talk of a new Cold War. That has left Baltic leaders — and NATO military planners — balancing what they feel they need with what they think they can get. Adding to the fears, Russian leaders now routinely raise their willingness to use nuclear weapons, a habit not seen since the height of the Cold War in the early 1960s. Western leaders have sought to place enough firepower in the Baltics to deter an attack while avoiding the perception of a military threat to Russia.

Source: Washington Post July 03, 2016 18:11 UTC