US likely to keep 100,000 troops in Europe for foreseeable future in face of Russian threat

May 21, 2022

The US is keeping 100,000 troops in Europe for the foreseeable future, due to the escalation of Russia and its threat to Sweden and the Finns, many US officials have announced.

The numbers could rise temporarily if NATO conducts more military exercises in the region while the US could add additional bases in Europe if the security environment changes, officials added, CNN reported on Saturday.

The plans are being considered following Thursday’s meeting of NATO military leaders in Brussels.

The military chiefs are making recommendations for a meeting of NATO defense ministers scheduled for June, while NATO leaders, including President Joe Biden, will meet in Madrid later that month.

The U.S. increased its overall force position in Europe from about 60,000 troops before the Russian invasion of Ukraine to about 100,000 now, adding troops and military equipment to countries along Europe’s eastern flank to support NATO and further hindered Russia. The US contributed thousands of troops to the NATO Response Force, which was activated for the first time in NATO history earlier this spring.

These recommendations are in line with what senior military leaders have told US lawmakers. In April, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told members of Congress that he approved the establishment of permanent U.S. bases in Eastern Europe in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

But Milley said he believed American troops at those bases could be rotating. He said he did not think the US needed to permanently place troops on them to create an effective deterrent.

While Sweden and Finland are ready to join NATO, US officials believe that if Russia were to make serious threats, the force’s stance may need to be further reassessed, officials said.

Sweden and Finland have expressed concerns about their security after they submitted their membership applications, seeking additional security support from some NATO allies until the process takes place. Several countries have agreed to provide additional support to both countries, Admiral Robert Bauer, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, said on Thursday.