The U.S. Department of Defense said on March 7 that the United States had ordered Europe to deploy an additional 500 troops to strengthen the troops already there.
“These additional personnel apparently respond to the current security environment caused by Russia’s provocative invasion of Ukraine, and certainly strengthen and strengthen the deterrence and defense of the NATO alliance. “We are in place to help,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby and Washington reporters told.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment after discussing with General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Todd Walters, Commander of the United States European Command.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th.
The 500 troops, primarily “small units” and “enablers,” come from 10,000 to 12,000 troops with increased vigilance that they could be deployed in Europe in February, when the war began. ..
“These troops are very supportive of the troops that have already been dispatched,” officials said.
We sent refueling tankers and about 150 troops to Greece and about 40 troops from Fort Stewart to support air support operations in the two border countries of Ukraine, Poland and Romania. A similar group from Bragg and Fort Stewart to Germany, another NATO ally.
The United States has been strengthening its presence in Europe since early February, ordering to deploy or deploy approximately 11,700 troops that month, and to move other troops already in the region to countries near Ukraine. Relocated.
President Joe Biden cites NATO rules that treat attacks on any member state as an attack on all member states if Russia attacks NATO member states, although the U.S. military will not fight in Ukraine. And said he was ready to respond.
“We are not going to send US troops to fight Russia in Ukraine. The president is not going to do that,” White House spokesman Jen Psaki said on Monday.
Russia opposed Ukraine’s desire to join NATO and said the condition for withdrawing troops from Ukraine was a constitutional amendment to ban entry into blocks such as the Alliance. The third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ended on Monday and there was no solution to the dispute.
French President Emmanuel Macron said at a campaign meeting in Poissy after talking to world leaders, including Biden, that there would be no “true negotiated solution” in the coming days or weeks. Told.
“I hope so, and we are doing everything we can to help it. It depends on both, but on the reality of the scene,” he said. “In the short term, this war is I think it will continue. “
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Zachary Stieber covers US and world news. He is based in Maryland.