Fort Bragg troops deploying to Europe amid tension with Russia
President Joe Biden is sending troops from a North Carolina military base to Europe as tensions escalate between the United States and Russia.
Roughly 2,000 service members from Fort Bragg reportedly are heading to Germany and Poland this week. Those being deployed include about 1,700 members of the 82nd Airborne Division and 300 members of the 18th Airborne Corps, according to a U.S. Department of Defense document obtained by McClatchy News.
“Collectively, this force is trained and equipped for a variety of missions to deter aggression and to reassure and defend our Allies during this period of elevated risk,” officials said on Feb. 2. “We worked closely with our Polish and German Allies to set the stage for these movements, and we appreciate their support.”
About 1,000 additional troops that are based in Germany will be going to Romania, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said during a Feb. 2 news conference.
The news comes after the United States put more than 8,000 troops on standby if they need to be deployed. Officials could make other moves within Europe amid worries that Russia will attack Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported.
“These movements are unmistakable signals to the world that we stand ready to reassure our NATO allies (to) deter and defend against any aggression,” Kirby said.
“The Department of Defense will continue to support diplomatic efforts led by the White House and the State Department to press for resolution. We do not believe conflict is inevitable.”
“These forces are not going to fight in Ukraine,” officials said. “They are not permanent moves. They respond to current conditions.”
The U.S. government has criticized Russia after it sent tens of thousands of troops to places near the Ukraine border. Russian officials have said no invasion is planned, the Associated Press reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the United States is trying to push his country toward war, with a real goal of imposing sanctions, according to the BBC.
Fort Bragg is a U.S. Army base roughly 55 miles south of Raleigh. About 53,700 troops are stationed there and is home to the 82nd Airborne Division and the 18th Airborne Corps.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 7:12 AM with the headline "Fort Bragg troops deploying to Europe amid tension with Russia."
