CRI听力:US Unloads Arms Enhancing Defense of Baltic States

The US military has begun unloading around 400 armored vehicles in Latvia to support the next rotation of troops in the Baltic region.

The delivery comes amid the heightened tension between NATO and Russia over the situation in Ukraine.

The vehicles being delivered in Riga include M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

The vehicles are going to be sent to NATO forward positions in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

US Army Major General John O'Connor says, "The equipment from the 3rd Infantry Division and the soldiers participating in Atlantic Resolve demonstrate our commitment to this collective security. Our message to the Latvian people, U.S. allies and partner nations is that the U.S. Army Europe can and will provide prompt support as needed from the air, from the sea and from the land."

Over the past year, the U.S. Army has been conducting multi-national training exercises with its allies in eastern Europe amid the heightened tensions with Russia over Ukraine.

NATO member states around the Baltic have been reporting an increasing number of sorties by Russian warships and air-force jets since the end of last year.