The Pentagon says it continues to consult with NATO allies about their “military needs and desires,” and it’s not ruling out additional U.S. troop overseas deployments in response to heightened tensions over Russia’s military presence on the Ukrainian border.
“The other thing I'd say is I’m not going to rule out the possibility that there will be more such direction given to additional units at home or even abroad in terms of their readiness posture,” said Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby.
Moscow has denied it is planning to invade Ukraine, but it has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine in recent weeks and is holding military drills at multiple locations in Russia. That has led the United States and its NATO allies to rush to prepare for a possible war.
Kirby said the Pentagon has not ordered the 8,500 U.S. troops it put on heightened alert to deploy. However, if and when the deployment occurs, the troops will come from a number of different services and will have a number of different capabilities.
“Logistics, sustainment, medical, aviation, certainly brigade combat teams,” he said.
“These are combat credible forces. That’s the idea, that’s what the NATO Response Force is all about.”
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