The situation along the Russian and Ukrainian border has intensified in recent days. The latest movement came from the alliance today as NATO announced that European allies were deploying troops and arterially such as ships and fighter jets to Eastern Europe while putting new forces on standby after Russia reportedly mobilized military troops along the Ukrainian border.
Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and is set to deploy four F-16 fighter jets to Lithuania in support of NATO’s long-standing air-policing mission in the region. Spain is sending ships to join NATO naval forces and is considering sending fighter jets to Bulgaria. France has expressed its readiness to send troops to Romania under NATO command. The Netherlands is sending two F-35 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria from April to support NATO’s air-policing activities in the region, and is putting a ship and land-based units on standby for NATO’s Response Force. The United States has also made clear that it is considering increasing its military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.
“I welcome Allies contributing additional forces to NATO. NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all Allies, including by reinforcing the eastern part of the Alliance. We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defence,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday in a reiteration of his warning against a Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying that any aggressive interference from Russia would be met with a severe response.
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that Russian invasion would only lead to a terrible quagmire and loss of life.
