The numbers could rise temporarily as NATO conducts more military exercises in the region, and the US could add additional bases in Europe as the security environment changes, the officials added.
The plans will be considered after NATO military chiefs meet in Brussels on Thursday, officials said. Military leaders are making the recommendations for a NATO defense ministers’ meeting scheduled for June, and NATO leaders, including President Joe Biden, are due to meet in Madrid later this month.
The US increased its total force in Europe from about 60,000 troops before Russia invaded Ukraine to about 100,000 now, adding troops and military assets to countries along Europe’s eastern flank to support NATO and further deter Russia. The US contributed thousands of troops to NATO’s Response Force, which was activated for the first time in NATO history earlier this spring.
These recommendations are consistent with what senior military leaders have been telling US lawmakers. In April, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, told members of Congress that he favored the creation of permanent US bases in Eastern Europe in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. But Milley said he believes US troops could rotate at those bases. He said he didn’t think the US would need to station troops with them on a permanent basis to create an effective deterrent.
NATO military chiefs, including General Tod Wolters, who serves both as commander of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, attended the meetings in Brussels as the war in Ukraine continues, approaching the three-month mark since the start of the Russian invasion approaches. The US added thousands of troops in Europe in temporary rotations, deployed additional military assets to the eastern flank to support eight new NATO battlegroups and, along with NATO allies, sent billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine.
However, the Pentagon recently announced replacement troops for these temporary rotations, signaling that the increased US presence will be maintained for some time. The Pentagon announced that about 10,500 US Army personnel will be deployed to Europe in the coming weeks and months to complete the missions already carried out on March 13.
In addition to major NATO meetings, General Milley also met with military leaders from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, as well as Finland and Sweden this week, according to Joint Chiefs of Staff Col. Dave Butler.
With Sweden and Finland poised to join NATO, U.S. officials don’t think additional forces will be needed unless Russia suddenly poses a threat to the two Nordic countries. If Russia were to move arms or seriously threaten it, arms closer troop posture might need further review, officials said.
Sweden and Finland have raised security concerns during the transition period after submitting their applications for membership and have requested additional security support from certain NATO allies while the process unfolds. Certain nations have agreed to provide additional support to the two countries, Admiral Robert Bauer, chairman of NATO’s military committee, said on Thursday.
Most NATO members have welcomed Finland and Sweden’s bid for membership, but Turkey has objected.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist at the Pentagon on Wednesday, a day ahead of the NATO military chiefs meeting in Brussels.
“The Secretary has made it very clear that we have been comfortable with their military for many years and that we will be happy to discuss with them at the staff level any security and capability requirements they may need to ensure and to deter Russia should the need arise.” , a senior defense official said of Austin and Hultqvist’s meeting on Wednesday.
The official said there would be further staff-level talks about what Sweden’s needs might be and how the US could help meet them, and that the US had also engaged Finland in similar staff-level talks. Calling for additional security needs may not result in additional US troops, the official added. According to the official, the US could participate in additional military exercises with Sweden or Finland, for example.
A more permanent power stance change
NATO and US leaders have hinted at a more permanent shift in European troop posture in response to the ongoing Russian invasion, with a possible announcement at next month’s NATO summit in Madrid. It might consolidate the 100,000 troop level for some time.
In April, Austin told US lawmakers that the war in Ukraine and Putin’s actions will change the US military footprint in Europe.
“This unlawful and unprovoked aggression by Putin will change the security architecture in the region for some time,” Austin said. “We expect it will change our footprint. To what extent it changes the US contribution remains to be seen.”
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg both hinted at an announcement of a more permanent change in NATO’s military stance, particularly in Eastern Europe, at the conclusion of the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers on May 15 in Berlin, Germany.
“We also spent time here in Berlin laying the groundwork for next month’s summit in Madrid,” Blinken said during a press conference concluding the informal NATO meeting in Berlin. “NATO will release its new Strategic Concept, outlining how the Alliance will maintain and strengthen transatlantic security in the face of President Putin’s aggression and other emerging threats. And we will look ahead to our continued efforts to strengthen our forces on NATO’s eastern flank.”
Stoltenberg said the alliance will meet during next month’s Madrid summit after the conclusion of the informal meeting in Berlin on March 15.