Biden formally approves new US troops to Europe amid Russia threat, deployments expec

[Boats]

Biden formally approves new US troops to Europe amid Russia threat, deployments expected in 'coming days'
By: Natasha Bertrand & Barbara Starr - CNN News - 02-02-22
Re: https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/polit...sia/index.html

(CNN)President Joe Biden has formally approved additional US military deployments to eastern Europe, and the Pentagon is expected to announce Wednesday morning that the troops will deploy "in the coming days," US officials told CNN.

The deployments are a show of support to NATO allies feeling threatened by Russia's military moves near Ukraine, the officials said.

The Pentagon is expected to announce that thousands of additional US troops will deploy to forward locations in Europe. The deployments will include roughly 2,000 US troops to Poland and an additional few thousand to southeastern NATO countries, including Romania, the sources said.

The US has put 8,500 troops in the US on heightened alert in case a NATO Response Force is called up and US forces are needed quickly. But the US and NATO have tens of thousands of other troops already in Europe to draw on for any additional deployments to Eastern European allies; some of the troops that will be deployed soon are already stationed in Europe, the sources said, while others will come from those in the US that are already on heightened alert.

The troops will operate on a bilateral basis with their host countries, since NATO has not yet activated a multinational response force.

CNN reported last week that the US and a handful of allies had been in discussions to deploy thousands more troops to Eastern European NATO countries before any potential Russian invasion of Ukraine as a show of support in the face of Moscow's ongoing aggression.

Biden also said last Friday that he would be moving the forces "in the near term," as Russia has continued to build up forces near Ukraine, sparking fears of a renewed invasion even as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions have continued.
CNN's Jim Sciutto contributed reporting.

Also;

Biden greenlights more troops to Europe amid clash with Russia over Ukraine
By Mike Glenn - The Washington Times - Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Re: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...europe-amid-c/

President Biden has signed off on sending additional troops to reinforce NATO allies in eastern Europe amid a mounting crisis with Russia over Ukraine and security policy across the continent. The U.S. troops could begin deploying within days, according to multiple media reports.

About 2,000 U.S. military personnel will be sent to forward locations in Poland with a similar number heading to other countries in southeastern Europe, including Romania, CNN reported.

The Pentagon has issued stand-by orders putting another 8,500 U.S. troops on “high alert” for possible deployment to Europe as the U.S. contingent of NATO’s 40,000-member rapid response force.

A Defense Department spokesman said U.S. combat troops permanently based in Europe and those on rotational assignments there could be shifted further east to bolster nervous NATO allies near Russia.

The move is the latest development in the continuing crisis over Russia assembling thousands of combat troops on the border with Ukraine and within neighboring Belarus. U.S. and NATO officials said an invasion could be imminent, although Moscow has denied that is their intention.

Russia says it wants reassurances that Ukraine won’t become a member of NATO and that the alliance will reduce its military presence in eastern Europe. NATO officials have said Moscow does not get to dictate the terms of the alliance.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.

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Personal note: It was bound to happen sooner than later.
Let's see what Putin's next move if there is one?