The commander of the U.S. troops in Europe, General Todd Walters, spoke about the tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border and the ability of U.S. allies to move large numbers of forces quickly over great distances.
The testimony provided by the General is published on the Pentagon’s website.
According to Walters, the current NATO security posture in Europe is strong, yet challenged by Russia's actions in the vicinity of Ukraine. However, America's allies and partners in Europe remain a key strategic advantage.
"NATO remains the strategic center of gravity and the foundation of deterrence and assurance in Europe. Everything we do is about generating peace," said Wolters. "We compete to win. We deter, and, if deterrence fails, we're prepared to respond to aggression with the full weight of the transatlantic alliance."
Wolters also mentioned the addition of 500 soldiers to U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden in Germany. These troops will be made up of field artillery; composite air and missile defense; intelligence, cyberspace, electronic warfare and space; aviation and a brigade support element. The Theater Fires Command will improve readiness and multi-national interoperability by integrating joint and multinational fires in exercises and operations, in support of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said Army Col. Joe Scrocca, the spokesman for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, in a separate statement today.
"The Theater Fires Command and Multi-Domain Task Force in Europe will enable U.S. Army Europe and Africa to synchronize joint fires and effects, control future long-range fires across all domains, and will create more space, cyber and electronic warfare capabilities in Europe," Scrocca said.