US to deploy 3,000 reserve forces to Europe to defend NATO’s eastern flank

Europe, News, US July 15, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order on July 13, 2023, to deploy 3,000 reserve forces to Europe in order to support Operation Atlantic Resolve and strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.

President Biden stated in the executive order that “it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve in and around the United States European Command’s area of responsibility.”

U.S. Joint Staff Director of Operations, Army Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II said during a press conference that “This operation will be designated as a contingency operation.” He added that “This new designation benefits troops and families with increases in authorities, entitlements, and access to the reserve component forces and personnel.”

The Pentagon statement highlighted that “This [executive order] reaffirms the unwavering support and commitment to defend NATO’s eastern flank in the wake of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine.”

The United States European Command (Eucom) spokesperson U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Speaks said that the “U.S. European Command is preparing to use this new authority in continuation of U.S. commitment to NATO’s collective security.”

*^{U.S. Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment soldiers taking part in exercises in Europe. (Image Credit: U.S. Army)}*

“These authorities will ensure long-term resilience in Eucom’s continued heightened level of presence and operations. This will not change current force-posture levels in Europe,” he added.

The United States plans for deploying troops to Europe is “an important demonstration of the U.S. commitment to allies and partners” which will provide the U.S. European Command with greater flexibility to provide key entitlements to the forces who support those commitments, Speaks said in the press release.

The executive order comes on the heels of the U.S. president’s five-day trip to Europe, where he visited the UK, Lithuania, and Finland. During his visit, Biden suggested a long-term assistance model for Ukraine as Washington committed to providing $3.8 billion in military aid to Kyiv per year over a decade.

The U.S. and NATO Allies also agreed on new regional defense plans to significantly improve the Allies’ ability and readiness to deter and defend against any threats and ensure timely reinforcement of all NATO Allies.