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Estonia sees arrival of 150 American paratroopers

28 April 2014, 20:57 -- One hundred and fifty soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team arrived to the Amari air base near the capital, Tallinn, to take part in a series of military drills throughout the year, the General Staff of Estonia's Defense Forces announced. Richard C. Longo, Deputy Commanding General of US Army Europe, arrived in Estonia together with the paratroopers. Estonia's President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Chairman of the Parliament Eiki Nestor, US Ambassador to Estonia Jeffrey D. Levine and Head of Estonian Defense Forces Igor Schvede took part in the welcome ceremony.

According to Ilves, Estonia has always highly appreciated its cooperation with the United States. He stressed that the aim of the mission was not to liberate his country. 'Seven decades later we no longer need to be liberated but the sight of you here is still significant and powerful. History is being made and you guys are making it. Welcome to Estonia,' Ilves said in his welcome speech Monday. The soldiers will be based on the territory of the Estonian Peace Operations Centre in the city of Paldiski. Soon they are expected to take part in the largest military exercises conducted within the territory of Baltic States, codenamed 'Spring Storm'.

The drills are kicking off on May 5. The US troops are expected to stay in Estonia till the end of the year. Earlier US soldiers landed in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen earlier this month said the alliance intends to deploy additional military personnel to enhance combat readiness and perform military drills, as well as revise its defense plans in connection with the Ukrainian crisis. The Alliance also decided to strengthen air patrols in Eastern Europe and send ships to the Baltic Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that NATO is attempting to use the Ukrainian crisis as an imaginary threat to unite the alliance's members and to push for Moscow's isolation.

Source: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_28/Estonia-sees- arrival-of-150-American-paratroopers-8151/