Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has raised the military on “heightened preparedness to deploy” in case NATO activates its military over tensions with Russia.
• The decision has not been made to deploy the troops, but they are preparing them for deployment at a moment’s notice.
• NATO is on heightened alert if Russia invades Ukraine.
• The Pentagon says that Russia has not shown any signs of de-escalating and continues to amass troops on Ukraine’s borders.
• Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Monday – This is really about reassuring the eastern flank of NATO, and it’s also about … proving how seriously the United States takes our commitment to NATO and the Article Five commitment inside NATO,”
• Kirby said no mission has been assigned, but the following groups have been put into alert – “additional brigade combat teams, logistics personnel, medical support, aviation support, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.”
• In the last few weeks, NATO countries like the UK, Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands have sent Ships fighter Jets to Eastern Europe to show force to Russia.
• NATO Response Force (NRF) comprises about 40,000 multi-national troops that can also be deployed on short notice.
• Alos NATO members, including the UK and US, have sent weaponry and military trainers to Ukraine as Russia gets closer.
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