US tanks arrive in Germany to help Nato defences Published duration 6 January 2017

image copyright EPA image caption The tanks began arriving in Bremerhaven, northern Germany, on Friday. Pictured: Major General Timothy McGuire

The largest shipment of US brigades since the fall of the Soviet Union is arriving in northern Germany.

The first of the 87 tanks and 144 military vehicles were being unloaded in the port of Bremerhaven on Friday.

The equipment and 3,500 US troops are to be deployed along Nato's eastern frontier. The deployment aims to allay worries of potential Russian aggression in eastern Europe.

However, some fear the large number will exacerbate tensions with Moscow.

Leaders of the left-wing regional government of Brandenburg - one of the German states through which the American brigades will be transported over the next two weeks - have called for further talks with Russia.

image copyright AP image caption The vehicles will be joined by 3,500 troops

image copyright EPA image caption Not everyone believes bolstering Nato's defences is a good idea

image copyright AP image caption The decision to send more tanks was made amid rising worries over Russia

The arrival of the equipment and troops marks the start of a new phase of the US's Operation Atlantic Resolve, which foresees the continuous presence of an American armoured brigade combat team in Europe on a nine-month rotational basis.

The new forces will gather first in Poland, then fan out across seven countries from Estonia to Bulgaria, while a headquarters unit will be stationed in Germany.

image copyright EPA image caption Eastern European states are on alert since the annexation of Crimea

image copyright AFP image caption The equipment reached European soil via ship

image copyright AFP image caption These vehicles will now go to Poland