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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 6 april 2022

Top general urges more U.S. troops in eastern Europe

Continued from front States, Ukraine and all of
the allies and partners that
"I believe that a lot of our are supporting Ukraine are
European allies, especially going to be involved in this
those such as the Baltics or for quite some time."
Poland and Romania, and Austin added that the
elsewhere — they're very, broad Russian demands
very willing to establish per- were not acceptable to
manent bases. They'll build NATO, and the U.S. is look-
them, they'll pay for them." ing at ways to provide ad-
Austin added that he re- ditional aid and training to
cently visited and spoke countries, including non-
with leaders in the Baltics, NATO allies such as Geor-
noting that they made it gia and Finland.
clear they value U.S. troops Members of Congress
there. "We'll continue to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley listens as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pressed Austin and Mil-
work with NATO to assess speaks during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal year 2023 defense budget, ley on what could have
what the requirements will Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Washington. stopped Russia from in-
be moving forward," Aus- Associated Press vading Ukraine, and that
tin said. "We will be part of there to other locations. Mil- tational forces. troops and 1,500 troops, sanctions did not work as
that solution." ley said Tuesday that while NATO Secretary-Gener- to send to Hungary, Slova- a deterrent. Both said that
The Pentagon is continu- there are no decisions yet, al Jens Stoltenberg an- kia, Romania and Bulgaria. the only possible way to
ing to review its troop num- there's a possibility, if not a nounced last month that NATO allies are set to dis- deter Russian may have
bers across Europe, and probability" of increase U.S. NATO is creating four new cuss additional security been to put U.S. troops on
whether to add more or troops in Europe, and that battlegroups, which usu- measures at the upcoming the ground inside Ukraine,
shift some of those already need could be filled by ro- ally number between 1,000 summit. but that option was re-
Milley has advocated us- jected because it risked a
ing rotational forces more broader U.S. war with Rus-
around the globe to defray sia. Milley said he isn't sure
the costs of permanently Russian President Vladimir
stationing troops and their Putin was deterrable since
families in allied countries invading Ukraine has been
at risk of war, such as South a long-term goal for Mos-
Korea and in the Persian cow. Milley and Austin
Gulf. He said using this also told the committee
would eliminate some of that the U.S. has learned a
the costs associated with number of things as it has
schools, housing and other watched Russia struggle to
such services. fight against an unexpect-
Rotational forces deploy edly fierce Ukrainian de-
for shorter periods of time. fense over the past month.
Permanent forces are of- They said Russia has signifi-
ten deployed for two years cant military capabilities
to three years. but has been unable to use
Milley also agreed that them effectively.
Moscow's aggression in Austin said Russian forces
Ukraine, and its ongoing lack training among their
demands that the U.S. and noncommissioned officers
NATO reduce troops and and the Kremlin has been
arms in European coun- unable to get the supplies
tries along Russia's borders, and logistics needed to
signal a lengthy conflict in ground troops
the region that extends be- Austin said Ukraine has used
yond Ukraine. Stinger and Javelin missiles
"I do think this is a very pro- effectively against Russian
tracted conflict and I think troops and weapons. Milley
it's at least measured in said that Ukraine's junior of-
years. I don't know about ficers, many trained by the
decades, but at least years U.S., have shown initiative
for sure," said Milley. "I think and good command and
that NATO, the United control abilities.q