They were placed there against the background of the situation around Ukraine, said the head of the US Department of Defense Lloyd AustinWASHINGTON, February 24.
/tass/. More than 20 thousand American troops were additionally deployed in Europe against the background of the situation around Ukraine. This is stated in a statement by the head of the US Department of Defense Lloyd Austin on the occasion of the anniversary of the beginning of the Russian special operation in Ukraine.
"In response to the most serious threat to European security since the end of World War II, we, together with our allies, promptly began to further unite and strengthen NATO. The Alliance has strengthened its defenses on the eastern flank. Meanwhile, the United States has deployed or extended the service life of more than 20 thousand additional American forces in Europe and transferred the first permanent American forces to the eastern flank of NATO," the Pentagon chief said.
According to him, NATO is "united as never before", and the United States is committed to its obligations to protect "every inch of the territory of the allies" in the alliance. Austin also suggested that "difficult times" could come ahead in connection with the conflict in Ukraine and called on the allies to maintain "unity in goals and actions" in this regard.
