U.S. Pushes NATO Forces

In a fresh move to shore up NATO’s deterrence against a potential Russian attack, the United States is pressing European allies to ready more NATO battalions, ships and planes for combat. U.S. and NATO officials and diplomats tell Reuters that on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis will seek broad agreement for the plan in Brussels when alliance defense ministers meet, laying the ground for endorsement by NATO leaders at a summit in July.