U.S. sending tanks and armor to Europe

Brad Lendon
By Brad Lendon, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 6:26 PM EDT, Tue June 23, 2015
U.S. soldiers fire ceremonial rounds from M1A2 Abrams tanks at the Adazi training area, in Latvia, last November.
U.S. soldiers fire ceremonial rounds from M1A2 Abrams tanks at the Adazi training area, in Latvia, last November.
U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy J. Fowler
Dragoons assigned to Head Hunter Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment load their Strykers and equipment onto a local railway as they prepare for their upcoming rotation in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve at Rose Barracks, Germany, March 11, 2015.
Dragoons assigned to Head Hunter Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment load their Strykers and equipment onto a local railway as they prepare for their upcoming rotation in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve at Rose Barracks, Germany, March 11, 2015.
U.S. Army
Dragoons from Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment participate in Operation Atlantic Resolve. They wear ribbons representing the Lithuanian flag during an Independence Day event in Vilnius, Lithuania, March 11, 2015.
Dragoons from Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment participate in Operation Atlantic Resolve. They wear ribbons representing the Lithuanian flag during an Independence Day event in Vilnius, Lithuania, March 11, 2015.
U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Megan Leuck
Dragoons from Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conduct a combined training exercise with Estonian soldiers in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, March 7, 2015, in Rabassare, Estonia.
Dragoons from Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conduct a combined training exercise with Estonian soldiers in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, March 7, 2015, in Rabassare, Estonia.
U.S. Army/Sgt. Kimberly Mianecki
Dragoons from Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, train with Estonian Allies in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, March 7, 2015, in Rabassare, Estonia.
Dragoons from Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, train with Estonian Allies in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, March 7, 2015, in Rabassare, Estonia.
U.S. Army/1st Lt. Paul Nadolski
U.S. Army Pfc. William Chaput, left, and Staff Sgt. Demarcus Credit, both of Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, scan for enemy activity during a combined training exercise at Pabrades training area, March 4, 2015.
U.S. Army Pfc. William Chaput, left, and Staff Sgt. Demarcus Credit, both of Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, scan for enemy activity during a combined training exercise at Pabrades training area, March 4, 2015.
U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Megan Leuck
A Lithuanian soldier from 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion waits in an M113 armored personnel carrier during a combined live-fire exercise with U.S. troops at Pabrade training area, Lithuania, March 4, 2015.
A Lithuanian soldier from 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion waits in an M113 armored personnel carrier during a combined live-fire exercise with U.S. troops at Pabrade training area, Lithuania, March 4, 2015.
U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Megan Leuck
Lithuanian soldiers, left, of 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, advance in a M113 armored personnel carrier with U.S. Troopers from 3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, following close behind at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, March 2, 2015.
Lithuanian soldiers, left, of 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, advance in a M113 armored personnel carrier with U.S. Troopers from 3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, following close behind at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, March 2, 2015.
U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Megan Leuck
U.S. troopers of 3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, load into a Stryker during a live-fire joint training exercise with Lithuanian soldiers of 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, on March 2, 2015.
U.S. troopers of 3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, load into a Stryker during a live-fire joint training exercise with Lithuanian soldiers of 3rd Company, Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, on March 2, 2015.
U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Megan Leuck
A Bangalore torpedo explodes at a demolition range during a training exercise at Pabrade training area, Lithuania, February 27, 2015. Dragoons of Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, spent the day learning the process of assembling and detonating makeshift explosives.
A Bangalore torpedo explodes at a demolition range during a training exercise at Pabrade training area, Lithuania, February 27, 2015. Dragoons of Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, spent the day learning the process of assembling and detonating makeshift explosives.
U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Megan Leuck
Soldiers of Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment rider Strykers through the Estonian Independence Day parade in February.
Soldiers of Iron Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment rider Strykers through the Estonian Independence Day parade in February.
U.S. Army/1st Lt. Paul Nadolsk
U.S. troops in European exercises

Story highlights

Defense Secretary Ash Carter makes announcement in Estonia

250 tanks, Bradley armored fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzers will be sent

Armor going to Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland

CNN  — 

The U.S. military will be sending dozens of tanks, Bradley armored fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzers to allied countries in the Baltics and Eastern Europe in response to Russian actions in the Ukraine, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday.

The equipment, enough to arm one combat brigade, will be positioned in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland, Carter announced at a press conference with U.S. allies in Estonia.

Carter said the equipment will be moved around Europe for training and exercises.

RELATED: Carter embarks on European tour with attention fixed on Russia

US sends tanks to Europe to combat Russia starr dnt lead_00020903.jpg
US sends tanks to Europe to combat Russia starr dnt lead_00020903.jpg
Reuters/NATO TV
video

Related video U.S. to send tanks to Europe to counter Russia

The U.S. defense chief also said Washington and its NATO allies will be boosting cyber defense efforts.

“We must prepare NATO and our allies for cyber challenges, particularly from Russia,” Carter said in prepared remarks.

Carter’s announcement comes during a week-long tour of Europe.

“We need to explain to those who doubt the value of our NATO commitments that the security of Europe is vital to everything else we hold dear,” Carter said at a press event with his German counterpart Monday.

RELATED: U.S. - Russia military tit for tat raises fears of greater conflict

While Carter won’t be visiting Russia on this trip, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s influence looms over the tour’s discussions.

“One of [Putin’s] stated views is a longing for the past and that’s where we have a different perspective on the world and even on Russia’s future,” he told reporters en route to Germany, in response to a question about whether Putin is a rational actor. “We’d like to see us all moving forward, Europe moving forward, and that does not seem to be his stated perspective.”

Carter also addressed comments Putin made last week, announcing the addition of 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles to Russia’s nuclear arsenal, a move Carter said reflected “posturing” on the Russian leader’s part.

“Nuclear weapons are not something that should be the subject of loose rhetoric by world leadership,” Carter said. “We all understand the gravity of nuclear dangers. We all understand that Russia is a long established nuclear power. There is no need for Vladimir Putin to make that point.”

Carter’s comments are just the latest in an escalating war of words between U.S. and Russian officials.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin denied his government is behaving aggressively.

“We are not aggressive,” Putin said. “We are persistent in pursuing our interests.”

Last week U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James addressed Russian actions.

“The biggest threat on my mind is what’s happening with Russia and the activities of Russia,” James said during a visit to the Paris Air Show. “It’s extremely worrisome on what’s going on in the Ukraine.”

Like what Carter said is planned for the U.S. Army’s tanks, U.S. Air Force planes have been rotating through Europe under Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Participating in those exercises and rotations have been B-2 and B-52 bombers, F-15Cs and A-10 attack planes.

James said the F-22 Raptor, the Pentagon’s premier fighter, could join that list.

“I could easily see the day – though I couldn’t tell you the day exactly – when the F-22, for example, rotates in is a possibility. I don’t see why that couldn’t happen in the future,” James said,

The Army, too, has been active in these exercises. In March, the Army sent a convoy of armored vehicles on an1,100-mile trek from the Baltics through Poland and the Czech Republic to Germany.

Analysts said the size of the armor deployment Carter announced Tuesday was showed it was more symbolic than strategic.

During the Cold War, the U.S. had the same amount of armor, a brigade, stationed in just one small part of what was then West Germany, said retired Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmit, the former military assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.

“We are now talking about taking one brigade combat team and splitting it among these six countries. That should hardly be seen as a threat to Russia,” Kimmit said.

But the symbolism was important, he said.

“We’re sending a message of assurance to our NATO allies. We have obligations, under the NATO treaty, to defend those countries if attacked. I think those countries in the region are going to be welcoming the positioning of these - this equipment into their countries,” Kimmit said.

Orysia Lutsevych, an analyst with the Chatham House think tank in London, said the U.S. and its NATO allies should have been making these kind of statement to Moscow sooner.

The Obama administration “should have pushed the Kremlin before reaching to the kind of moment of escalation we are having right now,” Lutsevych said. “By trying to appease the Kremlin too long, we will be facing with a higher cost every day.”

CNN’s Laura Koran and Brian Todd contributed to this report.