The US Armed Forces have deployed approximately 80,000 personnel in NATO member countries across Europe. The presence of US troops there aims, in part, to counter Russian military aggression, reports US President Joe Biden.
The US President’s office released a letter from Biden to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the temporary head of the Senate, providing a report on military authorities, including “to keep the Congress informed about deployments of United States Armed Forces equipped for combat.”
The document also mentions the presence of US forces in NATO countries.
According to the report, “Approximately 80,000 United States Armed Forces personnel are assigned or deployed” in NATO countries in Europe.
The document adds, “Including those deployed to reassure our allies and to deter further Russian aggression.”
US military presence in Europe
In the spring of 2022, Western media reported that the US might leave a reinforced military contingent of 100,000 service members in Europe. This move was reportedly being considered if Russia did not stop its large-scale war against Ukraine and ceased threatening Finland, Sweden, and NATO.
At the time, CNN reported that the US had increased its forces in Europe from about 60,000 personnel before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to approximately 100,000.
However, despite Russia’s ongoing aggression, Biden’s current report on the US military presence in NATO member countries shows that the number of US service members in Europe currently stands at 80,000.
Additionally, at the end of August, Finland expressed a desire to host troops from several NATO countries on its territory due to potential threats from Russia.
Earlier in the fall, it was reported that the US was increasing its naval presence near Alaska in response to Russian activity.