Factbox-NATO troops and possible reinforcements in Eastern Europe, Baltics

FILE PHOTO: NATO and Russian flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The United States has announced plans to send nearly 3,000 extra troops to Poland and Romania to shield NATO allies in Eastern Europe from a potential spillover of the crisis over the massing of Russian troops near Ukraine.

The new plan goes above and beyond the 8,500 troops the Pentagon put on alert last month to deploy to Europe if needed. NATO defence ministers are expected to discuss further reinforcements at their next meeting on Feb. 16-17.