U.S. to increase military presence in Europe
MADRID — President Biden, speaking Wednesday on the second day of a NATO summit, unveiled plans for an increased U.S. military presence in Europe, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new deployments are to include a permanent headquarters for the U.S. 5th Army Corps in Poland — a move that Russian President Vladimir Putin has long resisted — as well as the movement of two more F-35 fighter jet squadrons to the United Kingdom.
Leaders of NATO member states decided Wednesday to invite Sweden and Finland to join the alliance, announcing the move a day after Turkey agreed to drop its opposition to their bids. The addition of the two Nordic countries will bring the alliance to 32 members and underscores how Russia’s war in Ukraine is transforming regional security.
Putin said Wednesday that Russia will respond in kind to Finland and Sweden joining NATO if the expansion includes troop and military infrastructure deployments, repeating a months-old threat.
