As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has announced the deployment of more US military personnel around Europe.
After meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Madrid for the start of the 30-nation alliance’s annual leaders summit, Biden made the statement on Wednesday.
He announced the deployment of two squadrons of F-35 aircraft in the UK, a brigade of 3,000 combat soldiers in Romania, and two naval destroyers in Spain. The president also stated that additional air defense systems would be stationed in Germany and Italy, a permanent army headquarters would be formed in Poland, rotational deployment in the Baltic states would be improved, and so on.
“The US and its allies will take action. We are improving. Before the first summit meeting started, Biden stated, “We’re demonstrating that NATO is more essential than it has ever been.
He continued, “The United States will reinforce our collective security and increase our troop posture in Europe in response to the evolving threat situation.”
In Rota, Spain, Biden said the US was increasing its fleet of naval destroyers from four to six.
According to the US Department of Defense, the US has more than 100,000 service troops currently stationed across Europe, an increase of around 20,000 since before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine got under way four months ago.
The US is providing its partners with more military support at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin has “shattered the peace in Europe” and “attacked the very principles of rule-based order,” according to Biden.
Notably, the summit’s leaders have signed a new NATO strategic concept, the organization’s first revision to its mission statement since 2010. According to The Guardian, it has officially acknowledged that Russia is “the most important and direct threat to the security of allies.”
The new document also made reference to China for the first time, stating that its “stated ambitions and coercive policies challenge our interests, security, and values,” and that its “deepening strategic partnership” with Russia and its efforts to undermine the rules-based international order “run counter to our values and principles.”
