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Alex Peebles

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International

US to send more troops to Europe amid tensions between Russia, Ukraine

Feb 02, 2022

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The Pentagon announced the United States will be sending 2,000 troops to Europe this week to “send a strong signal” amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Those 2,000 troops are coming from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and they will be sent to Germany and Poland. Another 1,000 troops currently based in Germany will be moved to Romania.

“These forward-deployed forces help to deter aggression and if deterrence fails, stand shoulder to shoulder with our Allies to maintain security and stability in Europe,” the Pentagon said in a fact sheet on the movements. According to that fact sheet, “these forces are not going to fight in Ukraine,” and the moves “are not permanent.”

“They respond to current conditions,” the Pentagon said. “We will adjust our posture as those conditions evolve, and we will continue to consult closely with NATO Allies to ensure an appropriate collective posture of deterrence and defense.”

Of the 2,000 deploying from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, about 1,700 are members of the 82nd Airborne Division infantry brigade, who will go to Poland. The other 300 are with the 18th Airborne Corps and will deploy to Germany. The 1,000 U.S. troops going to Romania are members of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment based at Vilseck, Germany. According to Kirby, they will augment the approximately 900 U.S. troops already in Romania.

“These movements are unmistakable signals to the world that we stand ready to reassure our NATO allies and deter and defend against any aggression,” Kirby said at a Wednesday morning briefing. “The United States, in lockstep with our allies and partners, has offered Russia a path to de-escalate, but we will take all prudent measures to assure our own security and that of our allies.”

Last week, the Pentagon put 8,500 U.S.-based troops on higher alert for possible deployment to Europe in case the situation between Russia and Ukraine escalates. Officials have said additional units could be placed on higher alert soon.

“We continue to review our force posture and the situation in Europe, as the gravity of this situation demands our full attention,” the Pentagon said Wednesday. The U.S. already has between 75,000 and 80,000 troops in Europe as permanently stationed forces and as part of regular rotations in places such as Poland.

Gwen Baumgardner: THE UNITED STATES IS STEPPING UP ITS MILITARY PRESENCE IN EUROPE. PREPARING FOR A POTENTIAL RUSSIAN INVASION INTO UKRAINE.
THE PENTAGON ANNOUNCING WEDNESDAY, TWO THOUSAND TROOPS WILL BE SENT FROM FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, TO POLAND AND GERMANY THIS WEEK.
WITH ANOTHER THOUSAND GERMANY-BASED SOLDIERS BEING SENT TO ROMANIA.
AT A PENTAGON BRIEFING — SPOKESPERSON JOHN KIRBY STRESSED THE MOVE WAS TEMPORARY — WITH THE PURPOSE OF REASSURING ALLIES DURING THESE TENSE TIMES.
John Kirby // Pentagon Spokesperson: “We stand as one. We’ve said it before, we say it again today. These movements are unmistakable signals to the world that we stand ready to reassure our NATO allies and deter and defend against any aggression.”
Gwen Baumbgardner: THE PENTAGON HAS ALREADY PUT ABOUT 85-HUNDRED U-S TROOPS ON HIGH ALERT FOR POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT TO EUROPE.
HOWEVER — AS KIRBY EMPHASIZED — PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS HE WILL NOT PUT AMERICAN TROOPS IN UKRAINE TO FIGHT A RUSSIAN INCURSION.