NATO ministers this week are expected to approve plans to create a rapid response force of 4,000 troops that could “travel light but strike hard” at any potential trouble spots along the alliance’s eastern border, in case of Russian aggression.

“We must face the reality that Russia does not consider NATO a partner,” Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Brussels on Monday.  The Rapid Strike Force will be put forth at alliance's summit in Wales on Friday, when the Ukraine crisis is expected to top the agenda.

NATO’s eastern and Baltic states have been rightly concerned over Russia’s regional ambitions in the wake of Moscow’s continued meddling in the Ukraine crisis.  Police and the others have demanded the alliance take a more proactive stance.  Rasmussen said military equipment and supplies will be pre-positioned in these eastern member states as part of he existing response plan.

“We will develop what I would call a spearhead within our response force – a very high readiness force able to deploy at very short notice,” Rasmussen said.  “This spearhead would be provided by allies in rotation, and could include several thousand troops, ready to respond where needed with air, sea and special forces support.”

This does not have any bearing on the situation with Ukraine, which is not a NATO member.