Five NATO ships arrive in Lithuania amid Ukraine tensions Friday 2 May 2014

NATO deployed the naval group to the Baltic Sea last week, saying it was a sign of "the alliance's commitment to the safety and security of the Baltic member states".

Lithuania's defence ministry said the NATO ships would also visit other Baltic ports and participate in a mine-hunting operation in neighbouring Latvia later this month.

About 600 US troops have been sent to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland in recent weeks, while Britain, Denmark and France have sent extra fighter jets.

On Friday, British Defence Minister Philip Hammond visited his troops at Lithuania's Siauliai air base, after a first stop in Estonia where Britain sent 90 troops for military drills

[link to www.dw.de]