GETTY Nato will ramp up its plans to deploy thousands of troops to the Russian border

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The global alliance will use its meeting with European Union officials to launch an aggressive push to implement troops in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. An agreement – signed at a Nato summit in Warsaw in July – will see 3,000 to 4,000 soldiers stationed close to the Russian border in case Moscow launches all out war.

GETTY Nato's Security-General Jens Stoltenberg said EU and Nato ties are closer than ever

The US will lead the mission in Poland with Britain leading the way in Estonia, while Germany, Canada and France will also contribute troops. EU and Nato will also sign Operation Sophia at the two-day conference in Brussels this week, aimed at stopping the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.

The relationship between Nato and the European Union has never been closer Jens Stoltenberg

Speaking at a conference between the alliances, Nato defence minister, Jens Stoltenberg, said the operation was one of a host of efforts to strengthen ties between the EU and Nato. The Secretary-General added: “The relationship between Nato and the European Union has never been closer.

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“But we want to do even more, including on hybrid and cyber defence, maritime security and exercises.” Nato will continue to monitor Russian naval ships after fleets were seen heading through the English channel en route to the Mediterranean, US ambassador to Nato, Douglas Lute, revealed.

GETTY The troops will be led by the US and Britain as well as Germany and France