The head of NATO has said the organisation will not be forced into a new arms race with Russia.<br /><br /> But Jens Stoltenberg said what he called Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine had obliged the alliance to strengthen its defences.<br /><br /> “We will not be dragged into an arms race but we must keep our countries safe,” he said.<br /><br /> The US has moved to reassure NATO allies in eastern and central Europe, nervous about Russia’s intentions.<br /><br /> Speaking in Estonia on Tuesday (June 23), the US Defence Secretary said military equipment would be re-positioned closer to Russia’s border. <br /><br /> “We will temporarily stage one armoured brigade combat team’s vehicles and associated equipment in countries in central and eastern Europe,” Ash Carter said.<br /><br /> NATO has stepped up exercises in Europe following Russia’s annexation of Crimea last year.<br /><br /> Moscow recently accused NATO of pushing Russia into an arms race.<br /><br /> President Putin said his country would add more than 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear ars
