The United States is moving more military equipment into Europe, including vehicles and weapons to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland that could be used immediately by newly arriving U.S. troops, rather than waiting weeks for tanks and trucks to be shipped from U.S. bases.

This comes in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Analysts say NATO’s existing multinational combat units in the Baltics and Poland – originally some 5,000 troops in total – should be significantly increased in size. They expect the deployment of more sophisticated air defense systems including Patriot missile batteries in the Baltics and Poland.

More NATO troops could also be stationed in Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary.