Britain pledges to commit 1,000 extra troops to Nato's defence of Estonian border

Britain will commit more troops to Estonia to defend Nato's eastern flank as part of a massive expansion in the defence alliance, Ben Wallace has said. The defence secretary suggested at least 1,000 extra UK troops would join an enlarged force in the Baltic state, although he stressed that final details would have to be worked out in the months ahead.

- ADAM FORREST

At a summit in Madrid yesterday, Nato leaders agreed to increase its "high readiness" response force from 40,000 to 300,000 troops - but officials said the contribution of each country would not be finalised until early next year. The alliance also formally agreed to invite Finland and Sweden to become members after Turkey dropped its objections. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said he hoped the ratification process could now happen "as quickly as possible".

Boris Johnson said the surge in troops and accession of two new members showed that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had been "completely wrong" if he was hoping to reduce Nato influence on his western front. "He's getting more Nato." Speaking to reporters in Madrid, the defence secretary explained that more British troops would join the existing UK-led battlegroup in Estonia of around 1,700 UK personnel - turning the British-led force into the size of a "brigade".