Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over the weekend ordered more U.S. troops and military equipment to Europe.
Austin ordered approximately 500 additional troops to Poland, Romania and Germany “to respond to the current security environment in light of Russia’s renewed aggression against Ukraine” and to bolster NATO’s eastern flank, a senior official said Monday, per The Hill.
The official stressed Joe Biden’s assertion that no American troops will be sent to Ukraine, and that the additional forces sent are “enablers” going to NATO allies to increase capabilities that are already over there.
As part of the new deployment, KC-135 refueling aircraft will be sent to Greece, and an air support operation center will be deployed to Poland and Romania. Additionally, an ordinance company and a maintenance company will be sent to Germany for “additional logistic support to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division” already deployed there.
The U.S. military now has about 100,000 military personnel stationed in Europe, both on rotational and permanent basis.
