US will reinforce NATO forces in Europe on land, at sea and in the air. There are also plans to increase the number of American troops in Baltic States, announced US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, 29 June.
NATO will be reinforced on all levels – land, sea and air, the US president announced at the NATO summit in Madrid, adding that NATO is now needed more than ever.
During his meeting with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, Biden announced plans to increase the number of American troops stationed in Baltic States, a permanent headquarters of the Fifth Army Corps will be established in Poland, and an additional rotating brigade will be deployed in Romania, consisting of 3 000 troops and a combat unit with another 2 000 troops.
Two additional squadrons of F-35 fighter jets will be sent to Britain, additional anti-air defence systems and other forces will be deployed in Germany and Italy, Biden announced.
The number of US mine squadron vessels stationed in Rota Base in Spain will be increased from four to six.
«Together with our allies, we are going to make sure that NATO is ready to meet threats from all directions – across every domain, land, air and the sea,» Biden said.
Read also: Latvian minister: Russia will remain a threat for the next five decades
«In a moment where [Russia’s President Vladimir] Putin has shattered peace in Europe and attacked the very tenets of the rule-based order, the United States and our allies are stepping up,» Biden announced.
As for Finland’s and Sweden’s expected joining of NATO, Biden said Putin’s strategy in attacking Ukraine has backfired.
Stoltenberg added that NATO’s expansion is the opposite of what Putin hoped for.