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Carter: US to put military equipment in 6 European countries

Associated Press
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Lithuanian defense Minister Juozas Olekas, left, and US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter attend a joint press conference after a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Lithuanian defense Minister Juozas Olekas, left, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, second left, Estonian Defense Minister Sven Mikser and Latvian Secretary of Defense Janis Sarts, right, attend a joint press conference after a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

The US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, left, and Estonian Defense Minister Sven Mikser attend a joint press conference after a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, Tuesday, June 23, 2015 . (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Defense Secretary Ash Carter says the U.S. will spread about 250 tanks, armored vehicles and other military equipment across six European nations to help reassure NATO allies facing an array of threats from Russia and terrorist groups.

Each set of equipment would be enough to equip a military company or battalion, and would go on at least a temporary basis to Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania. Carter said the equipment could be moved around the region for training and military exercises, and would include Bradley fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzer artillery guns.

The move would allow NATO nations to more quickly respond to any military crisis in the region.