President Biden said the US would also send two additional F-35 fighter jet squadrons to the U.K. and more air defenses to Germany and Italy.
“Today I’m announcing the United States will enhance our force posture in Europe and respond to the changing security environment as well as strengthening our collective security,” he said.
Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said the move demonstrated the “strength in the trans-Atlantic bond” and thanked Biden for his “unwavering support” for Ukraine.
The troop numbers are still significantly down from the height of the cold war when around 300,000 American troops were stationed in western Europe.
John Kirby, a spokesman for Biden’s National Security Council, said: ”There has been no communication with Moscow about these changes, nor is there a requirement to do that.”
Biden announced on Tuesday the U.S. would base two additional destroyers at its naval base in Rota, Spain, bringing the total number to six.
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin thought Nato members would splinter after he invaded Ukraine, but got the opposite response instead.
“Putin was looking for the Finland-ization of Europe,” Biden said. “You’re gonna get the Nato-ization of Europe. And that’s exactly what he didn’t want, but exactly what needs to be done to guarantee security for Europe.”
