President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the US will significantly expand its military presence in Europe, the latest example of how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reshaped plans for the continent’s security and prompted reinvestment in NATO.
Among the changes would for the first time be a permanent American garrison in Poland, a permanent American foothold on the eastern side of the coalition. Biden also said the US would send two additional squadrons of F-35 fighter jets to the United Kingdom and more air defense and other capabilities to Germany and Italy.
During a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the Alliance’s annual leaders’ summit in Madrid, he said, “The United States will enhance the currency of our force in Europe and strengthen our collective security in response to the changing security environment.” “
The dry language belie a dramatic change as the US prepares to place 100,000 troops in Europe for the “near future”, up from 80,000 before the war in Ukraine begins.
Read also | Planned terrorist attack: Ukraine’s President Zelensky on Russian missile attack on the mall
Stoltenberg, who said earlier on Wednesday that the coalition was facing its biggest challenge since World War II because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, welcomed Biden’s announcement.
“This really demonstrates your decisive leadership and strength in the trans-Atlantic bond,” Stoltenberg said, thanking Biden for “the unwavering support from you and the United States to Ukraine.”
The extent of the US military presence is still far outweighed by its numbers during the Cold War, when the region averaged about 300,000 US troops. But it signals a renewed focus on European security. And the US announcement is reinforced by other commitments made by allies on the continent.
NATO plans to increase the size of its rapid reaction force from 40,000 to 300,000 by next year. Although troops would be based in their home countries, they would be prepared to deploy further east, where the Coalition would stockpile equipment and ammunition.
Max Bergman, a former State Department official who is director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said this is “a defining year” for the continent and the alliance.
“This is an extremely turning point, and one that historians are going to look back on,” he said.
He described the decision to move US forces further east as particularly noteworthy.
“We’re going to defend the line,” he said. “We’re not going to be just a tripwire. We’re not going to hand over anything.”
Biden said that in addition to permanently deploying US Army V Corps Forward Command in Poland, the US will increase the temporary deployment of troops to Romania and the Baltic region.
Celeste Wallender, an assistant US defense secretary for international affairs, told reporters that a long-term presence in Poland would be crucial to helping NATO navigate the changed security environment in Europe caused by Russia’s aggression. The US supplies the bulk of NATO’s military power.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was in Madrid, said on Twitter that the permanent presence of the US military command structure is an “extremely important decision” and “a decision we await.”
US officials emphasized that the permanent base applied only to headquarters units, not combat troops, and was therefore in line with a 1997 agreement between NATO and Russia in which the coalition permanently relocated military troops to Eastern Europe. It was agreed not to build the base as it was intended to be a more creative build. Relations in the post-Cold War environment.
The combat units Biden is sending to Romania and the Baltic regions are on rotational deployment rather than permanent assignment to remain in compliance with that agreement.
Biden’s National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: “There has been no communication with Moscow about these changes, and there is no need to do so.”
Biden announced after arriving for the summit on Tuesday that the US would deploy two additional destroyers to its naval base in Rota, Spain, bringing the total number to six.
Biden predicted that the meetings this week will lead to a “history-making summit” as leaders are expected to approve a new strategic framework, announce a slew of steps to boost their defense spending and capabilities, and set aside historically neutral Finland and Sweden. was determined to clear the way for to join NATO.
Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin thought NATO members would split after invading Ukraine, but received the opposite reaction.
“Putin was looking for a Finland-doing of Europe,” Biden said. “You are about to achieve NATO-ization of Europe. And that is not exactly what he wanted, but what exactly needs to be done to guarantee security for Europe.”
Turkey, the last remaining holdout to approve the Nordic countries’ entry into NATO, reached an agreement late Tuesday to support adding them to the 30-nation coalition.
While the White House said the US was not a direct party to the talks, a senior administration official said Biden spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan on Tuesday to help clear the way for Sweden and Finland to join. to be encouraged.
The two leaders met on Wednesday, and Biden praised Erdoan for his support for expanding NATO. They also discussed ways of exporting Ukrainian grain to alleviate food shortages around the world.
“You’re doing a great job, I just want to thank you,” Biden said.
Not all talks at the NATO summit involved European security.
Biden sat on Wednesday with South Korean President Eun Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who were attending the conference as the coalition looks to strengthen its ties in the Indo-Pacific region and address challenges from China.
The three leaders discussed North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which Biden said all three found “deeply related.”
Biden called “tripartite cooperation” essential and said the meeting was an opportunity for leaders to coordinate a shared response, as US officials say the separate nation could soon conduct another nuclear test.
At the leaders’ dinner on Wednesday, Biden attended his two granddaughters, Finnegan and Macy, instead of his wife, Jill. The US President introduced him to his Turkish and Spanish counterparts.