US President Joe Biden has ordered the deployment of thousands of troops to Eastern Europe as tensions with Russia escalate over Moscow’s potential invasions of Ukraine, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday.
The number of troops to be deployed stands at around 3,000, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a press conference.
“There may soon be additional military posture decisions to announce,” Kirby added.
A senior Pentagon official told the Wall Street Journal that the moves were “meant to deter the threat against the alliance. We are literally willing to put skin in the game.”
Kirby said the troops are expected to arrive in Poland and Germany, while an estimated 1,000 soldiers will reposition from Germany to Romania. He added that the estimated 3,000 troops were in addition to the 8,500 US troops already put on heightened alert in the United States.
He said these deployments were “unmistakable signals” that the US is ready to defend against aggression.
Biden’s final decision was reportedly made on Tuesday after meeting with his defense secretary and the top US military general.
Biden orders thousands of US troops to Eastern Europe over Russia threats
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