The United States will form an East Europe Brigade to be based in Bulgaria and Romania, a Bulgarian newspaper reported on Friday.

Gen. James Jones, the top commander of US and NATO forces in Europe, have told the US House of Representatives that the new brigade would be made up of 5,000 troops and several logistic teams, the Bulgarian newspaper 24 Chasa said.

Jones said he had discussed the issue of military bases with Bulgaria and Romania and had inspected possible sites during his visit to the two countries in January.

The newspaper said that the general was interested in renting an army base, two air bases, a missile launching base and a naval base from Bulgaria.

Romania and Bulgaria, which joined NATO last April, are considered particularly suited for US forces to be based because of their proximity to volatile regions in the Balkans, Caucasus and Middle East.

They also have Soviet-era facilities that could be adapted for American use, and both countries are keen to host US troops.

Bulgaria, a staunch ally of the United States in the Iraq war, sent troops to Iraq as well as to Afghanistan and Bosnia.