Pre-Summit Press Conference by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at Residence Palace, Brussels , 1 September 2014

At a press conference in Brussels on the 1 September 2014 previewing the issues to be discussed at the NATO Summit in Wales, 4-5 September 2014 NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen suggested that Nato was to agree on a rapid response force of several thousand troops ('Readiness Action Plan') to protect Eastern European members against possible Russian aggression, and other security challenges.

Mr Rasmussen said that military equipment and supplies would be pre-positioned in NATO member states in the east.

Reports suggested that Russia viewed the prospect of a permanent NATO military presence in Eastern Europe as a major threat.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 01.09.14: Nato rapid response force: Plan to boost Europe presence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29016170

ESO: Background information: Towards the Next Defence and Security Review: Part Two - NATO http://www.europeansources.info/record/towards-the-next-defence-and-security-review-part-two-nato/

ESO: Background information: US unveils $1bn European security plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/us-unveils-1bn-european-security-plan/

ESO: Background information: NATO Summit Wales 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-summit-wales-2014/

Euronews, 01.09.14: NATO: ‘Ready to deploy forces’ in response to all security challenges http://www.euronews.com/2014/09/01/nato-ready-to-deploy-forces-in-response-to-all-security-challenges/

Deutsche Welle, 01.09.14: Estonia's expectations: What can Obama deliver? http://dw.de/p/1D4fg

The Conversation, 02.09.14: Explainer: what’s on the agenda at the NATO summit? http://theconversation.com/explainer-whats-on-the-agenda-at-the-nato-summit-31138

France24, 02.09.14: NATO plans new 'spearhead' force to counter Russia http://www.france24.com/en/20140902-nato-new-spearhead-force-russian-threat-ukraine/

BBC News, 02.09.14: Russia 'to alter military doctrine towards Nato' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29026623

The New York Times, 01.09.14: NATO Weighs Rapid Response Force for Eastern Europe http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/02/world/europe/nato-to-create-a-rapid-response-force-for-eastern-europe-officials-say.html

The Guardian, 01.09.14: Nato to create high-readiness force to counter Russian threat http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/01/nato-high-readiness-spearhead-force-counter-russian-threat

Spiegel Online International, 01.09.14: Failed Diplomacy: NATO Hardliners Push for Firmer Stance against Russia http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/pressure-mounts-for-more-aggressive-stance-against-russia-a-989216.html

Eesti Päevaleht, 02.09.14: Estonia must push for Nato troops (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE149665-Estonia-must-push-for-Nato-troops

BBC News, 02.09.14: EU's Mogherini calls for Nato muscle in Eastern Europe http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29030736

Deutsche Welle, 02.09.14: Russia warns NATO against military presence in Eastern Europe http://dw.de/p/1D5F0

RIA Novosti, 03.09.14: White House: NATO to Discuss New Infrastructure at Eastern Frontier http://en.ria.ru/world/20140903/192576203/White-House-NATO-to-Discuss-New-Infrastructure-at-Eastern-Frontier.html

RIA Novosti: Tag: NATO http://en.ria.ru/tags/tag_NATO/

NATO: Newsroom: Speeches and Transcripts, 02.09.14: NATO and Russia: a new strategic reality http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_112406.htm

The Guardian, 03.09.14: Why Nato is more relevant than it has been for 30 years http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/03/nato-isis-russia-relevant-30-years

BBC News, 03.09.14: Why Nato-Russia relations soured before Ukraine http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29030744

The New York Times, 02.09.14: U.S. and Europe Are Struggling With Response to a Bold Russia http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/03/world/europe/us-and-europe-are-struggling-with-response-to-a-bold-russia.html

The Guardian, 03.09.14: Far from keeping the peace, Nato is a threat to it [Comment is free] http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/03/nato-peace-threat-ukraine-military-conflict

EUObserver, 04.09.14: No new Nato bases in eastern Europe http://euobserver.com/defence/125478

Polskie Radio, 05.09.14: Poland to welcome NATO 'spearhead' http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/180789,Poland-to-welcome-NATO-spearhead

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what?: Tougher Nato stance against Moscow? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2014-09-nato/

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