US may soon set up a permanent headquarters in Poland as a response to the on-going conflict between Russia-Ukraine. It may also send its warships to Spain, fighter jets to the UK and ground troops to Romania.
US will soon send up a permanent headquarters in Poland and spread its military assets across Europe. It’s new plan means US will commit some 30,000 troops in a state of high alert next year. The alliance is having its biggest overhaul since the Cold War, Nato head Jens Stoltenberg says.
President Biden too wants to beef up the alliance. “West needs Nato more than ever. US will strengthen Nato in all directions across every domain-land,air and sea,” he said. US now plans to shore up it’s presence in Europe and set up a new headquarters for its 5th Army Corps. “We mean it when we say that an attack against one is an attack against all,” Biden added at a summit in Madrid.
NATO’s Newer Measures
Nato has always relied on US military prowess to secure it’s defences. It’s newer measures mean US is committing more than ever. And these measures include:
●Boosting the fleet of US naval destroyers from four to six.
●An extra “rotational brigade in Romania with 3,000 fighters and another 2000 personnel combat team.”
●Two more squadrons of F-35 jets in UK . USAF currently operates 11 airbases in UK right now.
●Additional air defences and other capabilities in Germany and Italy.
Neutral Finland and Sweden joins NATO
At the summit in Madrid Nato decided to accept previous neutral Sweden and Finland in their camp. “This was exactly what the Russian President Vladimir Putin did not want. His strategy of invading Ukraine has backfired”, Biden added. Nato has formally invited Finland and Sweden to join the military alliance in the fastest accession process ever” , Jen Stoltenberg said in Madrid.
Finland and Sweden will now have to show that they meet Nato’s standards in politics, law and the armed forces. This is relatively straight forward for them.
In response to Russian aggression, Mr. Stoltenberg said Ukraine could continue to rely on the alliance’s support for “as long as it takes.” He also noted that Ukraine was fighting for both its independence and Nato ideals. He claimed that member nations had agreed to provide Ukraine with a “complete assistance package” that included fuel, medical supplies, body armour, anti-drone systems, and mine-detecting equipment.
NATO Decisions Exalt Poland
“This is the conclusion we’ve been waiting for,” declared President Andrzej Duda while attending the NATO meeting in Madrid Poland has been alerting the West about President Putin’s menacing behaviour for long . In an effort to win over President Donald Trump, Warsaw offered to pay up to $2 billion (£1.65 billion) to help construct a permanent US facility in Poland, and even suggested calling it “Fort Trump.”
President Biden’s declaration, however does not mean that US’s entire12,000 US troops in Poland will be permanently settled there.The US 5th Corps headquarters command post, which will be located in Poznan in 2020 and house 200 staff members who conduct planning and manage US land forces in Europe, as well as a new army garrison headquarters and a field support battalion, will be the only locations to get the status, according to the Pentagon.
In fact, President Duda mentions that 300 more US soldiers will be assigned to the US 5th Corps command in Poznan; as a result, out of the 12,00 US troops in Poland, 500 are now permanently stationed there.
(Inputs, BBC)
