US President Joe Biden will send another 3,000 troops to Poland to “reassure NATO allies” in the face of growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a Pentagon source said.
The demonstration of commitment by the Americans to NATO allies will allow 3,000 more soldiers to be added to the 1,700 that are already in Poland.
This information was provided by a senior US defense official, following statements by the head of diplomacy, Antony Blinken, and the White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could still take place. during the Winter Olympics, which are taking place in Beijing until February 20th.
These 3,000 troops, who are based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, had been placed on alert in late January at the request of President Joe Biden.
The military will leave their base “in the next few days” and should arrive at the site “in the beginning of next week”, added the Pentagon official, who requested anonymity, quoted by the AFP.
MORE MILITARY FOR OTHER COUNTRIES
In addition to US forces in Poland, around 1,000 troops based in Germany are being redirected to Romania, also with the aim of reassuring NATO allies, reports the Associated Press (AP).
Also today, the US Armed Forces revealed that they had repositioned in Romania a squadron of F-16 fighter jets, usually based in Germany, to “strengthen security” in that region, at a time of increasing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
The fighter jets, whose number was not mentioned, are expected this Friday at the Romanian airbase of Fetesti, less than 100 kilometers from the Black Sea, where they will join the Italian fighter planes that are already deployed there, reveals, in press release, the United States Air Force in Europe, which is based in Germany.
The military will “cooperate closely with allies in the Black Sea region to strengthen regional security in this period of tension caused by the Russian military deployment near Ukraine,” the US command said in a statement.
In particular, they will be responsible for protecting NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) airspace in that region, close to Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
On Thursday, the US Air Force had announced the arrival in the UK of B-52 bombers to participate in a “long-planned” exercise with NATO allies.
The US Navy also announced on Thursday the presence in the European theater of four ‘destroyers’ to reinforce the US sixth fleet.
Source: With Agencies