U.S President Joe Biden is ramping up American forces and equipment across Europe in the coming months, citing Russian threat.
The White House announced on Wednesday that the Biden administration will be deploying more U.S. military assets and declared to provide additional bases to be set up in Poland, Baltics, Romania, and the U.K.
In the fact sheet released by the White House, President Biden is planning to provide two additional F-35 squadrons in the United Kingdom and provide more rotational deployments in Baltics and Romania. The House will also give Poland permanent headquarters for the U.S. 5th Army Corps.
In addition, the White House will also place a short-range air defense battery in Italy and add a short-range air defense battalion and more air defense artillery brigade in Germany.
Biden also promised to increase the number of destroyer warships that are currently stationed at Spain’s Rota port from four to six.
“All of these combat-credible forces and enablers are supported by significant investments in the long-term U.S. presence in Europe,” the White House wrote. The announcement also added that the U.S. will continue to spend $3.8 billion annually on the “European Deterrence Initiative.”
According to Biden, the recent series of deployments and additional equipment are part of the U.S efforts against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Following Russia’s attack in Ukraine, the United States also threatened to intervene if Russia decided to attack a NATO country.
“We mean it when we say an attack against one is an attack against all,” Biden declared during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg then told Biden that the increase of deployments demonstrated the U.S. leader’s “decisive leadership.”
“We’re going to make sure that NATO is ready to meet threats from all directions across every domain. We’re proving that NATO is more needed now than it ever has been.” Biden said.
Meanwhile, Sweden and Finland also declared their plans on joining the alliance in response to Putin’s Ukraine invasion.
“We’re sending an unmistakable message that NATO is strong, united and the steps we are taking during this summit are going to further augment our collective strength.” Biden added.
