(VOVworld) - The US military has deployed two MQ-1 Predator reconnaissance drones and 70 airmen to Latvia on a training mission as part of US efforts to reassure European allies the US is committed to their security.

Reconnaissance drones were deployed to Latvia (Photo:yahoo)

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Captain Jeff Davis, said on Monday that the deployment of the MQ-1 Predators to Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia over the weekend was the first time the US military has sent a detachment of drones to Latvia to participate in partner training. The US has stepped up partner training deployments to NATO allies in Eastern Europe since Russia seized and annexed the Crimean region of Ukraine last year.

The US military earlier dispatched two F-22 stealth fighter jets to Poland.