NATO Activates Response Force, to Deploy Thousands of Troops Near Ukraine

It marks the first time NATO's Response Force is being activated since it was formed in 2003

by Dave DeCamp Posted onFebruary 25, 2022CategoriesNewsTagsNATO, Ukraine

On Friday, NATO officials announced the alliance was activating part of its Response Force and is sending thousands of troops to countries near Ukraine amid Russia’s assault on the country.

The US and NATO have reaffirmed that they have no plans to send troops into Ukraine to fight Russia. But NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is prepared to defend “every inch” of NATO territory, which includes countries that border both Russia and Ukraine.

The Response Force consists of 40,000 troops from NATO countries, but Stoltenberg said the alliance wouldn’t be deploying the entire force and did not specify exactly how many troops will be sent to Eastern Europe. The Response Force was first created in 2003, and this marks the first time it has been activated.

On Thursday, President Biden ordered 7,000 troops to be deployed to Germany. In recent weeks, the US has bolstered its forces in the Baltics, Poland, and Romania, which means US troops are not far from the fighting in Ukraine.

Stoltenberg also Friday that NATO countries announced the types of weapons they plan to give to Ukraine as it fights Russia. The Pentagon said the US will “provide additional security assistance” to Ukraine as well. On Thursday, Ukraine’s defense minister pleaded with the US to send Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/02/25/nato-activates-response-force-to-deploy-thousands-of-troops-near-ukraine/