NATO
Controversial protection against Russia
The USA want to move from February of 2017, an armored Brigade to Eastern Europe. In order to make it to all the pages right, you have to rotate the soldiers, however, permanently. From Brussels, Andreas Noll reported.
US President Barack Obama has reduced the presence of American soldiers in Europe during his term of office significantly, and two of four brigades from the continent deducted. This step makes Washington now reverse in part. As of February 2017, the USA will be entertain in Eastern Europe, an armored combat brigade, which will include a total of approximately 4200 soldiers.
Operation “Dragoon Ride”: the Media, the US Army of 2015, drove by the Baltic States
That Nato show troops on the territory of the former Warsaw Pact strength, is not fundamentally new. Because of Russia bordering Nato States feel no longer threatened, has established the Alliance after the annexation of the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea two years ago, the so-called “Operation Atlantic Resolve”, which resulted in Nato troops for Exercises in Eastern and Central Europe show presence. Made headlines recently, especially the Operation “Dragoon Ride”, when a US military convoy with Radpanzern from the Baltic States put about 1800 miles to Bavaria.
Permanent presence in the U.S.
This temporary presence of Nato units on the territory of the former Warsaw Pact, will be expanded with the help of U.S. combat brigade. “The symbolism is clear. The United States point to the countries in Eastern and Central Europe with a heavy combat-capable device: ‘If you feel threatened, then we’ll be there in an emergency. And we create structures so that we can faster come’,” analyzes the security expert Otfried Nassauer from the Berlin Information Center for Transatlantic Security. On paper, the commitment of the Americans seems solid: The 4200 soldiers are to be equipped with 250 armored vehicles (including approx. 90 Abrams-battle tanks, howitzers and combat vehicles), as well as another 1,700 additional vehicles.
Strong Signal of deterrence: The Brigade for Eastern Europe will be equipped with Abrams main battle tanks
The new Brigade is a response to the Russian policy, the commander-in-chief of Nato, General Philip Breedlove, has no doubts: “we will continue with the strategy to assure our Nato allies and allies of our strong and appropriate action in the face of an aggressive Russia in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.” This new presence in the USA cost a lot. To the beginning of the year, US President Barack Obama announced, to quadruple spending on defence in Europe, to 3.4 billion US dollars.
The Ambassador of the USA in Germany, John B. Emerson, despite the stationing of a US tank brigade in Eastern Europe, and further cooperation with Russia in international areas. “That means no return to the Cold war,” said Emerson of the German wave. He pointed out that the USA and Russia cooperated in other important policy areas. As examples, he cited the nuclear agreement with Iran and the fight against international terrorism.
The rotation principle will be introduced
And yet, the new third Brigade of the U.S. Army differs in Europe from the already existing brigades in Germany and Italy. For the additional unit is brought up-to-date equipment to East and Central Europe, but it will probably be no new barracks in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria or the Baltic States. Also on an extensive American infrastructure with long-term residents of soldiers ‘ families, the Eastern Europeans have to do without.
NATO Supreme commander Philip Breedlove
On the contrary, and device every nine months to be exchanged troops, and the Brigade is divided into smaller units in various countries. The beginning of Bulgaria, Lithuania and Romania, apparently. Between the countries, the soldiers rotate, in turn, on a regular basis. A large part of the equipment is stored also in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
With this approach, the United States want to demonstrate their ability to relocate in a short time troops, but also consideration on the Nato-Russia act of 1997. The Nato had not committed “substantial combat forces” “to the kidneys permanently” in Eastern Europe. “The commitment to adhere to the United States in this way,” says Nassauer.
Several Ex-Warsaw Pact countries had hoped for a greater commitment of the United States. The Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas called for after the US plans in his country for at least a Nato-battalion permanently stationed. The Alliance rejects this, however. “The Nato welcomes the rotation plans of the U.S. Department of defense,” said Nato spokeswoman Carmen Romero, opposite the Deutsche Welle.
Protests from Moscow
Russia reacted by contrast, in a Huff on the project of the United States, which is in its basic features since the summer of 2015. The Russian Ambassador to Nato Alexander Grushko criticized on Thursday the U.S. plans. In a statement to DW, he said it was a “further step that writes to a Transition of the NATO-confrontational Patterns.”
In addition to critique is also more conciliatory signals coming from Moscow came. We hope in the next two months, a Meeting of the Nato-Russia Council, said a Diplomat of the Agency Interfax. It would be the first Meeting of the panel since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis two years ago.