Marines are now among the thousands of US troops deployed to Europe and the eastern fringes of the NATO alliance in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
About 200 Marines from a command and control unit of Marine Air Control Group 28, based in Cherry Point, North Carolina, were dispatched to Lithuania after a cold-weather exercise in Norway, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. A few Marine Corps C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and 10 Marine F-18 Hornet fighter jets from Beaufort, South Carolina, will be deployed to Eastern Europe.
The latest deployment came as Russia appeared to be withdrawing and repositioning its invading forces after weeks of fierce resistance from Ukraine, and the Pentagon claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “failed” in his efforts to seize the capital, Kyiv.
Continue reading: Top General believes US will need ‘even more’ troops in Europe after Ukraine war
The Pentagon has already deployed 14,000 troops to Europe, stationed with allies such as Poland, Germany and the Baltic States, or on high alert for a possible deployment. On Monday, it was announced that six Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington state, have been dispatched to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.
“It’s not about a numbers target, it’s really about capabilities and it’s based on ongoing discussions with our NATO allies on the eastern flank,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said during a Tuesday briefing.
The naval and naval operations were conducted unilaterally by the US and were not part of the NATO Response Force, an elite multinational force of 40,000 troops that includes the US and was recently activated by the Alliance.
Marines are coming to strengthen the NATO alliance and like all US troops now in the region, they will not fight the Russians in Ukraine. President Joe Biden has made it clear that the US will not interfere militarily unless a NATO member is attacked, but his administration has sent over $1 billion in weapons and military support to Ukrainian forces in the face of the Russian attack and heavy sanctions imposed.
The story goes on
The Russians said Tuesday they are withdrawing troops from the Kyiv area as part of peace talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the unprovoked invasion that began on February 24. But the Pentagon was skeptical of the claim.
“We believe this is a repositioning, not a true retreat, and that we should all be ready to watch for a major offensive against other areas of Ukraine. That doesn’t mean the threat to Kyiv is over,” Kirby said. “Russia missed their goal of capturing Kyiv, they missed their goal of subjugating Ukraine, but they can still inflict massive brutality on the country, including Kyiv.”
– Travis Tritten can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten.
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