The U.S. intends to keep 100,000 troops stationed in Europe in the foreseeable future in the face of the Russian threat.

This was reported by CNN with reference to representatives of the US administration.

In the future, the United States intends to maintain the presence of about 100 thousand of its military in Europe, unless Russia escalates and threatens Finland and Sweden or other NATO members.

“The numbers could temporarily increase if NATO carries out more military exercises in the region, and the US could add additional bases in Europe if the security environment changes,” CNN noted.

Such plans were considered during the last Thursday meeting of military leaders of NATO countries in Brussels, American officials said.

This topic will also be raised at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in June, and at a Summit in Madrid later that month.

On 18 May, Klaus Korhonen, the Ambassador of Finland to NATO, and Axel Wernhof, the Ambassador of Sweden, submitted their applications to join the Alliance at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

The applications were accepted by Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General.

This launches the formal procedure for countries to join the Alliance.

Joining NATO will end a decade of Finnish neutrality and approximately 200 years of Swedish neutrality.

The applications must now be approved by each of the 30 members of the North Atlantic Alliance.

Both countries mentioned that the decision to apply for NATO membership was dictated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, both Sweden and Finland are directing this decision to strengthen their own security, not “against someone”.