Biden bolsters long-term U.S. military presence in Europe

The United States will create a new permanent army headquarters in Poland and increase its long-term military presence across the length and breadth of Europe in response to threats from Russia.

New U.S. warships will go to Spain, fighter jet squadrons to Britain, ground troops to Romania, air defense units to Germany and Italy and a wide range of assets will be introduced to strengthen the security of the Baltic States.

This was stated by Biden at the NATO summit in Madrid, according to Reuters.

He also underscored the Atlantic alliance’s commitment to “defend every inch” of its territory.

“We mean it when we say an attack against one is an attack against all,” he said.

The agency cited a senior U.S. official who said the U.S. military presence on the continent will now remain at its elevated level of around 100,000 troops “for the time being”.

“What we’re doing today as leaders, we’re taking decisions to strengthen NATO’s overall long-term posture,” he said. He noted that there are now eight battle groups on the Alliance’s eastern flank, twice the number as before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Deployment of troops

A permanent U.S. Army headquarters in Poland would be accompanied by a field support battalion – the first permanent U.S. contingent on NATO’s eastern flank.

In addition, Joe Biden said Washington would also work with Spain to raise the number of U.S. destroyers based in Rota, Spain to six from four.

Washington will also position a rotational Brigade Combat Team (BCT) in Romania that will add “3,000 fighters and another 2,000 personnel”.

In the Baltic states, the U.S. military will enhance its rotational deployments, which include armored, aviation, air defense, and special operations forces.

Two additional squadrons of advanced F-35 fighter jets will be sent to Britain.

The Pentagon will also add 625 troops in Germany to oversee and carry out air defense artillery operations, combat sustainment support and engineering missions.

A short-range air defense battery will be stationed in Italy, adding 65 personnel.

Cooperation with Turkey

Washington also underscored its support for Turkey’s plans to modernize its F-16 fleet, a top U.S. official said, a day after Turkey agreed to stop blocking plans for Sweden and Finland to join the NATO alliance.

Assistant Secretary for Defense Celeste Wallander told reporters that Turkey was “a highly capable, highly valued, strategic NATO ally” and “strong Turkish defense capabilities contribute to strong NATO defense capabilities.”

Wallander said plans for Turkey’s request were “in the works,” but needed to go through the U.S. contracting process.

As previously reported, NATO formally invited Finland and Sweden to join the Alliance.