US president approves deployment of 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe

Europe, News, US February 3, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. President Joseph Biden approved the deployment of additional soldiers to Eastern Europe amid fears of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby, the U.S. troops would soon be deployed to Germany, Poland, and Romania in response to the “current security climate”.

The Pentagon announced that a Stryker squadron of mechanized infantry forces comprising around 1,000 U.S. service members based in Vilseck, Germany will be sent to Romania. In addition, around 1,700 service members, from the 82nd Airborne Division will be deployed to Poland, and 300 other service members will be sent to Germany, the Pentagon release added.

Pentagon Press Secretary Kirby highlighted that the main purpose of troops deployment was to send a “strong signal” to Russian President Putin “and frankly, to the world, that Nato matters to the United States and it matters to our allies”.

According to Kirby, President Biden “has been clear that the United States will respond to the growing threat to Europe’s security and stability. Our commitment to NATO Article 5 and collective defense remains ironclad.”

“As part of this commitment and to be prepared for a range of contingencies, the United States will soon move additional forces to Romania, Poland, and Germany,” Kirby added.

On January 28, U.S. President Biden announced that he will be “moving troops to Eastern Europe and the NATO countries in the near term.” According to the Biden administration officials, the U.S. was considering deploying additional forces and military equipment to European states, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

*^{Members of the U.S. Army of the Pennsylvania National Guard arrived by plane at the airport in Vilnius, Lithuania on June 5, 2016. (Image Credit: Mindaugas Kulbis/AP)}*

According to earlier reports, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has already stationed 8,500 U.S. soldiers on high readiness in case of any further deployment decision. Defense Secretary Austin also warned that the Russian military buildup near Ukraine has already reached the point where Russia’s President Putin has a complete range of military options. “While we don’t believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has the capability,” Defense Secretary Austin said in a press conference.

However, the Pentagon chief stressed that “there is still time and space for diplomacy.” Secretary Austin said during a press conference on January 28, “The United States, in lockstep with our allies and partners, has offered Russia a path away from crisis and toward greater security, and the Department of Defense will continue to support those diplomatic efforts.”

Although Ukraine is not a member of NATO, the U.S., UK, and other NATO allies fear that the Russian attack on Ukraine would spill over into neighboring NATO countries.

The U.S. also convened a UNSC special session on January 31 to discuss the Russian military buildup along the border with Ukraine. During the session, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned the council of the horrific consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which would threaten global security.

“Colleagues, the situation we’re facing in Europe is urgent and dangerous, and the stakes for Ukraine and for every UN member state could not be higher… Russia’s actions strike at the very heart of the UN charter. This is as clear and consequential a threat to peace and security as anyone can imagine,” Thomas-Greenfield said.