Russian invasion of Ukraine backfires
President Joe Biden said Wednesday the U.S. 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 a reinvestment in NATO.
Among the changes will be a permanent U.S. garrison in Poland, for the first time creating an enduring American foothold on the alliance’s eastern flank. Biden also said the U.S. would send two additional squadrons of F-35 fighter jets to the United Kingdom and more air defenses and other capabilities to Germany and Italy.
“The United States will enhance our force posture in Europe and respond to the changing security environment as well as strengthening our collective security,” he said during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance’s annual leaders summit in Madrid.
The dry language belied the dramatic shift under way as the U.S. prepares to keep 100,000 troops in Europe for the “foreseeable future,” up from 80,000 before the war in Ukraine began.
See: Zelensky tells NATO it’s not doing enough to stop Russia, even as Biden boosts troop presence in Europe
Stoltenberg, who earlier Wednesday said the alliance was facing its biggest challenge since World War II because of Russia’s now-4-months-old invasion of Ukraine, welcomed Biden’s announcement.
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The expanding U.S. military presence is still far short of its numbers during the Cold War, when roughly 300,000 American troops, on average, were stationed in the region. But it signals a renewed focus on European security. And the U.S. announcement is bolstered by other commitments made by allies on the continent.
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Biden's prior weakness resulted in the Russian invasion and now requires the further expansion of US forces to Europe. The expansion is not likely to accomplish anything within Ukraine beyond the continued addition of weapons and munitions to the Ukraine government.
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