Ukraine conflict
United States put 8,500 soldiers on increased readiness
01/24/2022, 10:05 p.m
No decision has yet been made on moving US troops to Europe. But because of the smoldering conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the US Department of Defense is reacting and is putting several thousand soldiers on increased standby for a “range of contingencies”.
According to the Department of Defense, the US government has put around 8,500 soldiers in the United States on increased standby because of the Ukraine crisis. Ministry spokesman John Kirby stressed today, however, that a decision on moving these troops to Europe had not yet been made. The relevant units were put on increased readiness on the instructions of US President Joe Biden and on the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
“As such, they are prepared to respond to a range of contingencies, including supporting the NATO Response Force should it activate,” Kirby said. NATO decides whether to activate this “NATO Response Force” (NRF). In connection with the increased willingness, Kirby spoke of “reinsurance for our NATO allies”.
Western countries fear that Russian troops will invade Ukraine. Moscow denies that there are such plans. According to a report in the New York Times, Biden is considering relocating warships and planes to NATO allies in the Baltic and Eastern Europe and sending several thousand US soldiers. Options include sending 1,000 to 5,000 troops to Eastern European countries, with the possibility of tenfold that number if the situation worsens, the report said. A decision is expected this week. The United States has tens of thousands of soldiers stationed in Europe, even outside of times of crisis.
US consults with European allies
Biden wanted to consult with European allies on the Ukraine conflict in a secure video link today, the White House said. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Polish President Andrzej Duda, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles would attend the switching conference Michel participate.
Scholz said before the video link with US President Joe Biden and key European allies that they were proof of Germany’s close cooperation with other Western countries in the conflict with Russia. It was agreed that the territorial integrity of Ukraine should not be violated, said Scholz. “We will not accept that. If it comes to that, we will react together and that would have high costs,” the SPD politician warned in Russia. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed that Chancellor Olaf Scholz will make his inaugural visit to the United States in February. The US government will welcome Scholz to Washington, Psaki said.