News - U.S. announces $1 billion program to boost military presence in Eastern Europe

Charles Dharapak/AP - U.S. President Barack Obama is greeted by Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski as he arrives in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, June 3, 2014. 

WARSAW — The White House announced Tuesday that President Obama would seek up to $1 billion to support an increased military presence in Eastern Europe, in an effort to reassure allies that the United States will rebuff Russian encroachments in the region.

Ahead of a bilateral meeting between Obama and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, the White House said the funds, which it called a “European Reassurance Initiative,” would be used to support increases in military personnel deployed to Eastern Europe and to aid allies with training and strategic planning.

The White House is also seeking to reposition equipment and infrastructure within Europe and increase participation by the U.S. Navy in the NATO deployment in the Black and Baltic seas.
Finally, the Obama administration is looking to build up the military strength of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine so they can better provide for their own defense.

European security is the “cornerstone of our own security, and it is sacrosanct,” Obama said in brief remarks upon arrival here, standing in front of F-16 fighter jets that are part of a shared military deployment. “It is a commitment that is particularly important at this point in time.” 

The new effort, which requires approval by Congress and is expected to be included in an upcoming Pentagon spending proposal, is likely to be welcomed by Eastern European leaders, even if does not fulfill their desire for a permanent U.S. and Western European deployment in the region.

The United States has already taken other modest steps to increase its presence in the region, including rotating 600 paratroopers beginning in April through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland for joint training exercises.

In a statement, the White House said that a “persistent U.S. air, land and sea presence in the region, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, is a necessary and appropriate show of support to allies who have contributed robustly and bravely to Alliance operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere and who are now deeply concerned by Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea and other provocative actions in Ukraine.”