LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — About 200 U.S. special operations forces and support staff will be participating in training exercises across Europe, including in the three Baltic nations, in the coming months as part of America’s ongoing effort to reassure allies in the region.

The Pentagon says about 40 special operations forces are now taking part in the two-week Exercise Spring Storm in Estonia. And 140 will participate in Exercise Flaming Sword, which is in Latvia and Lithuania this month and will include forces from the U.S. and seven other nations. A third exercise called Namejs will take place in Latvia.

The Pentagon also says small teams of U.S. commandos will do language, cultural skills and tactical training in the three Baltic nations and two other Eastern European countries in the next two months.

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