Explained: New US Deployments To Europe

US President Joe Biden has announced that the US will send more destroyers, air defence systems and redeploy troops further east in Europe in the coming months.

“I said Putin’s looking for the Finlandization of Europe. He’s going to get the NATOization of Europe. And that is exactly what he didn’t want, but exactly what needs to be done to guarantee security for Europe. And I think it’s necessary," said Biden.

This move signals a deepening of American commitment to NATO's eastern front countries, who are worried that Russia will continue its march westward if Russia succeeds in Ukraine.

“My position is that once Russia gets the whole Ukraine, they will proceed farther. Moldova, Baltic countries, Poland, Slovakia, Romania. We have to stop them,” said Jaroslav Nad, Slovakia’s Defence Minister.

Slovakia has been involved in the war in Ukraine, which is the reason behind their fear. The Slovakians have sent Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft system to Ukraine.

The Slovakian Defence Minister has indicated that his country is willing to supply Ukraine with T-72 battle tanks as well, provided the West replaces them.

Biden's new move doesn't include Slovakia but it does include Romania. An American brigade combat team will be heading to Romania.

The US army will also set up a permanent V Corps headquarters, an Army garrison headquarters and a field support battalion in Poland.

Back in 2017, the US had already deployed an armoured brigade and aviation brigade to Poland.

The new command has been set up to help with logistics and planning purposes, which are supposed to help with exercise across the east.

According to a statement from the Pentagon, US will also enhance its rotational deployments — which include armored, aviation, air defense, and special operations forces to the Baltic region along with staging new air defense units in both Germany and Italy.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have donated weapons and supplies to Ukraine worth over tens of millions of dollars, from the limited stocks.

News of new Baltic deployments will be a happy news for these countries.

“It’s not only the troops, but also key capabilities that we are missing including air defence capabilities and long range fires… so those are more than welcome in Estonia, because we do not possess those capabilities today," said Tuuli Duneton, Estonia’s defence policy chief.

Latvia’s Defence Minister Artis Pabriks said that the establishment of the Army’s V Corps headquarters in Poland is a big deal. According to him, new V Corps headquarters in Poland will ensure that they are able to coordinate exercises and the forward stationing of more weapons and heavy equipment in the Baltic.

Since the time Russia invaded Ukraine, US has deployed 20,000 additional troops to Europe. The total is now more than 100,000.

The most significant part of the new deployments are the two more Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. They will be homeported in Rota, Spain.

This takes the tally to a total of six US warships, capable of performing air defence missions. These vessels are also capable of launching cruise missiles well inland.

The destroyers will provide missile defence to souther European allies along with patrolling the Mediterranean. Russian submarines and cruisers have been active in the region in recent years.

The Mediterranean deployment of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group has also been extended.

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