NATO is continuing military exercises in eastern Europe in a bid to deliver a "loud and clear" message to Russia that the alliance will defend its members.
A large airdrop of troops at Latvia's Lielvarde military base marked the latest stage of NATO's Steadfast Javelin II training exercises, which began on September 1 and continue until September 10.
Some 2,000 troops from nine countries - including the US, Canada and Italy - are taking part in the exercises, which are spread across Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Germany.
"Russia has ignored international law and defined itself as an aggressor," Latvia Defence Minister Raimonds Vejonis told local LTV television.
"We cannot define the enemy [in these exercises], but Russia is a country that poses a potential threat to European countries in general and to NATO."
The exercises are designed to improve the ability of NATO military forces to work together in complex operations, his ministry said in an earlier statement.
"Obviously there is a relevance to the crisis in Ukraine," said Latvian General Hans-Lothar Domrose, adding that the exercises tell "everyone loud and clear that NATO is ready to defend the territorial integrity of NATO member states".
NATO deputy commander of land forces General Ed Davis told LTV that the alliance was building forces that could respond to a "more diverse and dynamic" threat "within 48 hours".
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