Today at 19:43
February 8, the first US troops arrive in Romania to bolster NATO’s eastern flank amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Reuters reported it, citing Romanian Defence Minister Vasile Dincu.
“Over 100 US soldiers, specialists, who are preparing this deployment, have arrived,” Romanian Defense Minister Vasile Dancu told reporters.
The U.S. currently has about 900 soldiers in Romania and hosts a ballistic missile defense system.
NATO presence in central and eastern Europe includes:
- Battlegroups (Enchaced Forward Presence)
- Force Integration Unit
- US missle shield
The first batch of US soldiers arrived in Poland over the weekend with the bulk of the contingent to follow. It is planned to send nearly 3,000 extra troops to Poland and Romania to shield NATO eastern flanks. In addition, France’s president Emmanuel Macron expressed his readiness to send hundreds of troops to Romania under NATO command. Germany states is would deploy nearly 350 additional troops to Lithuania, as Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine grows.
Read also: Ukraine to hold military drills engaging Bayraktar drones, Javelin, NLAW missiles
Three out of fifteen former Soviet republics have become members of NATO. Ukraine has close relations with the Alliance, and since 2014, its cooperation with the body has enchased. The Kremlin expected to demand a guarantee that NATO won’t expand east, so Ukraine and Georgia would not join the Alliance. However, Biden’s administration states that NATO adheres to the open doors policy.
