Ukraine war: US to ramp up military presence across Europe
NepalPress
The US will increase its military presence across Europe as Nato agreed a “fundamental shift” in its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, BBC reported.
A permanent army headquarters will be created in Poland, while new US warships will go to Spain, fighter jets to the UK and ground troops to Romania.
Mr Biden said Nato was “needed now more than it has ever been”.
The alliance is having its biggest overhaul since the Cold War, Nato head Jens Stoltenberg said.
The new plan in response to Russia’s invasion will mean more than 300,000 troops at high readiness next year, up from the current level of 40,000.
Mr Biden told a summit in Madrid that Nato would be “strengthened in all directions across every domain – land, air and sea”.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also said it is significantly increasing the availability of forces to Nato’s collective defence, with more warships, fighter jets and land forces on standby – although the MoD said it would not give details on numbers as they are “militarily sensitive”.
The US announcement sees it shore up its presence across the continent but particularly in eastern Europe where the new permanent headquarters for its 5th Army Corps will be based.
Mr Biden repeated the alliance’s commitment to “defend every inch” of its territory, saying: “We mean it when we say an attack against one is an attack against all.”
The UK has already nearly doubled the size of its military presence in Estonia, with just over 1,600 troops there.
More will be allocated to the defence of the Baltics, however the MoD said these additional troops may be held at high readiness back home.
Mr Biden said this was “exactly” what Russian President Vladimir Putin did not want and said his strategy of invading Ukraine had backfired.
Nato Secretary General Mr Stoltenberg said Finland and Sweden had been formally invited to join the military alliance, describing it as the “fastest accession process ever”, and said he expected the swift progress to continue.
The two applicants must now show that they meet Nato’s standards in politics, law, and in their armed forces – something which is expected to be relatively straightforward for the Nordic countries.
Mr Stoltenberg said Ukraine could continue to count on the alliance’s assistance in the face of Russian aggression for “as long as it takes”, adding that Ukraine was fighting for its independence but also for values shared by Nato.
He said member states had agreed a “comprehensive assistance package” for Ukraine, which included fuel, medical supplies, body armour, anti-drone systems and equipment to counter mines.
NepalPress 
