BRIT and US soldiers were involved in a huge NATO military drill in the shadow of Russia as fears of invasion increase.

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It is NATOs first defensive drill on the border between Poland and Lithuania and involved 1,500 troops.

This comes as tensions between Vladimir Putin and the US rose at the weekend as a US jet shot down a Syrian warplane an ally of Russia.

Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, called the incident yesterday a "dangerous escalation".

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We have to demonstrate that we can support allies

It was rehearsing for a Russian invasion of the Baltic states.

if they seize the Suwalki Gap then it would cut off Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Over two days, US helicopters and British aircraft took part in exercises in a simulated defence of the potential flashpoint.

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Before his inauguration, Donald Trump asked a security expert three times during a briefing, why the US couldn't use nuclear weapons after he becomes president.

American helicopters landed in a field in rural Lithuania on Saturday, startling grazing horses and cows.

US Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said: The gap is vulnerable because of the geography. It's not inevitable that there's going to be an attack.

But if that was closed, then you have three allies that are north that are potentially isolated from the rest of the alliance.

Russia denies any plans to invade the Baltics, and says it is NATO that is threatening stability in eastern Europe.

But Hodges, who commands US forces in Europe, said it was crucial for the alliance to show it was ready.

"We have to practice, we have to demonstrate that we can support allies in keeping (the Gap) open, in maintaining that connection," he said.

Eleven NATO countries have sent 4,000 troops to Lithuania to participate in this years Iron Sword exercises.

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Members of the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade prepare a simulated attack

There are currently 4,500 troops deployed in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The Poles have been pushing other NATO allies to use some of these troops to secure the vulnerable Suwalki Gap.

"The training helps present a credible defence force that hopefully will deter aggression, but if not, we'll be prepared to move to defend the borders of NATO," added Lieutenant Colonel Steven Gventer, who leads the US battlegroup in Orzysz.

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Brit soldiers in MAJOR military drill as Russia WW3 fears grow in eastern Europe - Daily Star