US to boost its military presence in Europe in response to Russia

According to EURACTIV, The US is looking into increasing its military presence in Europe as part of ramping up defence in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden announced before NATO leaders meet for their landmark summit in Madrid on Wednesday (29 June).

“The US will enhance our force posture in Europe, and respond to the changed security environment,” Biden said, adding that it plans “to defend every inch of allied territory.”

The US has been building up its presence since shortly before the Russian invasion in late February, adding about 20,000 troops to the 80,000 who were previously in Europe.

Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Biden announced the US plans to establish a “permanent headquarters” for the US 5th Army Corps in Poland.

Washington will also send 5,000 troops as part of a rotational brigade headquartered in Romania, enhance rotational deployments in the Baltic States, send additional F-35 fighter aircraft squadrons to the United Kingdom, station additional air defence in Germany and Italy, as well as send two additional naval destroyers to Spain.

Biden said the NATO leaders summit in Madrid was “history-making” and the additional US deployments “send an unmistakable message that Nato is strong and united”.

“At a moment where [Russia’s President] Putin has shattered peace in Europe  (. . .) the US and its allies are stepping up, proving that NATO is more needed now than it ever has been,” Biden said.

The increased troop announcement comes as the Western alliance is also set to agree that big allies such as the US, Germany, UK and Canada will pre-assign troops, weapons and equipment to the Baltics and intensify training exercises.

NATO is also aiming to have as many as 300,000 troops ready for deployment in case of conflict, part of an enlarged NATO response force.