US to heighten troop presence in eastern Europe, says Biden

Joe Biden said on Friday that he will be moving US troops to eastern European and Nato countries “in the near term” as tensions rise over Russia’s military buildup on the borders of Ukraine.

The Pentagon has already placed about 8,500 US troops on stand-by for possible deployment to Europe amid Russia’s military build-up near Ukraine’s border.

“I’ll be moving troops to eastern Europe and the Nato countries in the near term. Not too many,” Biden told reporters on return to Washington from a speech in Philadelphia.

The United States already has tens of thousands of troops stationed across mostly western Europe, but the Pentagon is discussing sending a small number of reinforcements to the tense eastern flank. Biden has also threatened personal sanctions against Vladimir Putin should Russia invade.

This week, spokesman John Kirby said 8,500 troops were on “heightened alert” for possible deployment to assist Nato.

The deployment would be as much politically as militarily significant, bolstering US involvement in the brewing conflict.