US to boost military presence in Europe: What you need to know

The United States on Wednesday said it will significantly expand its military presence in Europe.

US President Joe Biden pledged more American troops, warplanes and warships for Europe as NATO agreed the biggest strengthening of its deterrents since the Cold War in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reported Reuters.

'The United States will enhance our force posture in Europe and respond to the changing security environment as well as strengthening our collective security,' Biden said during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General in Madrid, reported AP.

Meeting in Madrid, NATO leaders said Russia 'is the most significant and direct threat to allies' security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area'.

This came as NATO welcomed Sweden and Finland as invitees to join the alliance.

STRONG MILITARY PRESENCE

• Among the changes will be a permanent US garrison in Poland, for the first time creating an enduring American foothold on the alliance's eastern flank. Biden also said the US would send two additional squadrons of F-35 fighter jets to the United Kingdom and more air defences and other capabilities to Germany and Italy, reported AP.
• Biden announced on Tuesday that the US would base two additional destroyers at its naval base in Rota, Spain, bringing the total number to six.
• The US will add to the 100,000 troops it now has in Europe and deploy more military equipment to NATO allies. The additions include rotational deployments to Romania and the Baltic region, the White House said.
• The Pentagon will expand by more than 600 the number of military personnel in Germany, enhancing air defence and other support to NATO, The Wall Street Journal reported quoting a White House statement.

• The US deployments come as NATO prepares to agree new defence plans that will increase more than seven-fold the number of troops on high alert to respond to an invasion to more than 300,000 from 40,000 currently, reported the Financial Times.

NATO MEETING

• NATO heads of states on Wednesday approved a new strategic concept for the alliance, setting out its priorities, core tasks and approaches for the next decade. NATO defined Russia as the 'most significant and direct threat' to allies' security, while addressing China for the first time and the challenges that Beijing poses toward allies' security, interests and values.
• NATO also affirmed its commitment to continue supporting Ukraine, calling Russia an immediate and direct threat to European security, and welcomed Finland and Sweden into the alliance.

• But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lamented that NATO's open-door policy to new members did not appear to apply to his country, reported AP. 'The open-door policy of NATO shouldn't resemble the old turnstiles on Kyiv's subway, which stay open but close when you approach them until you pay. Hasn't Ukraine paid enough?' Zelenskyy said.

PUTIN FIRES BACK

After the US and NATO's decision to expand military presence in the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the alliance of seeking to assert its 'supremacy'. Ukraine and its people are 'a means' for NATO to 'defend their own interests', Putin said in the Turkmenistan capital of Ashgabat, reported AFP.

Putin warned Finland and Sweden that if they welcome NATO troops and military infrastructure onto their territory, Russia will respond. He said that Russia will have to 'create the same threats for the territory from which threats against us are created,' reported AP.

RUSSIA INTENSIFIES ATTACKS ON UKRAINE

• Russia pressed on with its offensive in eastern Ukraine on Thursday after NATO branded Moscow the biggest 'direct threat' to Western security and agreed plans to modernise Kyiv's armed forces.
• As the 30 national NATO leaders were meeting in Madrid, Russian forces intensified attacks in Ukraine, including missile strikes and shelling on the southern Mykolaiv region close to front lines and the Black Sea, reported Reuters.
• Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the biggest attack on a European country since World War 2. Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have died since the war started and millions of people have fled their homes in Ukraine since the conflict began.