THE government’s announcement that it is to station troops in the Baltic states to prevent “Russian aggression” is a provocation, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament warned yesterday.

The move comes against a backdrop of heightened tension between the West and Moscow following President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch air strikes against Isis in Syria.

Arriving for a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels yesterday morning, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “This is further reassurance for our allies on the eastern flank of Nato — for the Baltic states and for Poland.

“That is part of our more persistent presence on the eastern side of Nato to respond to any further provocation and aggression.”

The British troops would be part of a new Nato training, evaluation and capacity-building mission in Poland and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, he said.

“They will be part of a more persistent presence by Nato forces.”

But CND general secretary Kate Hudson told the Star: “Britain’s increasing military presence in the Baltic states — what Fallon calls a more regular drumbeat of troops — is a cause for serious concern.

“He describes it as a ‘persistent’ rather than permanent presence, to avoid accusations of breaking treaty agreements outlawing new Nato bases in eastern Europe.

“But in reality this breaks the spirit of the law. It is a provocation and is likely to be seen as such. It is irresponsible — the last thing that is needed at a time of considerable regional tension.”