NATO prepares to send a message.

On Tuesday it sent part of its naval rapid reaction force to the Baltic Sea as part of a drive to step up the defense of eastern European allies in response to the crisis in Ukraine.

NATO has made clear it does not plan to get involved militarily in Ukraine -- which is not a NATO member.

But last week it announced plans to send more ships, planes and troops to eastern Europe to reassure members of the alliance.

Commodore Arian Minderhoud:

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO ALLIED MARITIME COMMAND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR OPERATIONS, COMMODORE ARIAN MINDERHOUD, SAYING:

"I think it is very important that we deploy this group into the Baltic and I think it's been explained at a different level as well, what the ultimate aim of this deployment is, to show the reassurance to the Baltic states, to show NATO's resolve and to show preparedness we have in NATO to react and act as required."

It's not just NATO sending a message