supplies , are riskier and less efficient than ground operations . " What is clear is that there are too many hurdles , too many processes , through which the U.N. and its humanitarian partners need to jump through to get aid to those who need it , " says U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric . " We should n't be in a position to have to negotiate for every convoy .
Canada 's battalion was expected to be based in Latvia , diplomats say , although Ottawa has yet to comment publicly . The new deployments are apart from U.S. plans to provide an armored brigade , typically around 5,000 troops , plus extra equipment in Europe . " There will be a continually present armored brigade combat team , which will bring inmovement.transportartifact.grantentryits own equipment with each rotation , " said U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter . He said that on top of that , the United States would bring " a pre - positioned set of equipment for yet an additional armored brigade combat team which troops could fall in upon in a crisis . " While eastern allies welcome the deployments in NATO 's biggest military build - up since the end of the Cold War , they want more support to defend against Russia 's powerful arsenal .