The Pentagon announced Wednesday Joe Biden has ordered 3,000 U.S. troops to be deployed to Eastern Europe to send a message to Russia about NATO resolve in the face of Russia’s troop buildup on the Ukraine border. The U.S. troops being deployed are separate from the 8,500 already on standby for deployment for the NATO Response Force.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby:
.@PentagonPresSec: "The United States will soon move additional forces to Romania, Poland and Germany…These are not permanent moves…These forces are not going to fight in Ukraine. They are going to ensure the robust defense of our NATO allies." pic.twitter.com/kXS97rgH1E
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 2, 2022
Longer version:
https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/1488893740227911685
Statement released by the Pentagon:
Posture Updates in Support of Allies in Europe
February 2, 2022As part of our commitment to upholding the principles of the rules-based international order and to the security of our NATO Allies, the United States maintains significant combat-capable forces in Europe.
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. At the President’s direction and following Secretary Austin’s recommendation, the Department of Defense will reposition certain Europe-based units further east, forward deploy additional U.S.-based units to Europe, and maintain the heightened state of readiness of response forces to meet these commitments.
These forces are not going to fight in Ukraine. They are not permanent moves. They respond to current conditions.
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. We welcome the announcements in recent days by other Allies – including France, Spain, UK, the Netherlands, and Denmark – of their consideration to provide additional contributions to enhancing NATO’s posture on the eastern flank.
1,000 Forces Repositioned from Germany to Romania:
As a part of our broader effort to demonstrate our commitment to our NATO Allies and deter Russian aggression, the United States is repositioning a Stryker squadron of approximately 1,000 U.S. service members already in the European theater to Romania. The 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a mounted unit based in Vilseck, Germany, will send a combined arms force equipped with wheeled armored fighting vehicles to deter aggression and enhance our defensive capabilities in frontline Allied states during this period of elevated risk. These forces will augment the more than 900 U.S. service members already on regular rotation in Romania.
2,000 Multi-Mission “Assure and Deter” Forces Deployed to Poland and Germany:
Additionally, the Secretary is deploying approximately 2,000 forces from the United States to Europe in the next few days. These include approximately 1,700 service members of the 82nd Airborne Division and key enablers who will deploy from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to Poland and approximately 300 service members of the 18th Airborne Corps will move from Fort Bragg to Germany. The 82nd Airborne Division is deploying components of an Infantry Brigade Combat Team and key enablers to Poland. The 18th Airborne Corps is moving a Joint Task
Force-capable headquarters to Germany. Collectively, this force is trained and equipped for a variety of missions to deter aggression and to reassure and defend our Allies during this period of elevated risk. We worked closely with our Polish and German Allies to set the stage for these movements, and we appreciate their support.8,500 Forces Remain in the United States on Heightened Readiness:
The 8,500 personnel in the United States on heightened alert posture since January 24 remain in the United States. They are not currently being deployed, but remain ready to move if called to support the NATO Response Force (NRF), if it is activated, or as needed for other contingencies as directed by the Secretary or the President. We continue to review our force posture and the situation in Europe, as the gravity of this situation demands our full attention.
There are a reported 160 Florida National Guard troops on the ground in Ukraine training Ukrainian military. Kirby spoke about the deployment last week:
Kirby said today the Guard troops are still in Ukraine.
My Q to @PentagonPresSec continued: There are calls in Washington for the pentagon to support them- are any of these troops going to help them? And how will the presidents order change the mission of the florida national guard troops currently in Ukraine?
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) February 2, 2022
The Flordia national guard trainers are STILL in Ukraine- they are still there providing support and training. No decision has been made to bring them back.
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) February 2, 2022
More from News Nation reporter Kellie Meyer:
As to why they are moving to the eastern flank- do they have Intel Putin will move beyond Ukraine border? “It’s important that we send a strong signal to Putin and the world that NATO matters.” @PentagonPresSec
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) February 2, 2022
Pentagon isn’t ruling out sending more troops in the days and weeks to come.
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) February 2, 2022
Can you rule out that may of these troops may be brought into Ukraine to help with a non combative evacuation?
Pentagon doesn’t seem to confrim or deny this.
Says these are versatile forces, conduct a range of missions.
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) February 2, 2022
