The United States plans to deploy more heavy military equipment in Europe to fortify NATO’s eastern flank against Russian “aggression” in the region, according to a report.
The White House has requested a budget of more than $3.4 billion to send additional heavy weapons, armored vehicles and other military equipment to Central and Eastern Europe in 2017, the New York Times reported Monday, citing several US officials.
The deployment will help US and NATO forces to maintain “a full armored combat brigade” in the region at all times, the report said.
Officials said the plan will send a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the West is “deeply suspicious of his motives in the region.”
“This is a longer-term response to a changed security environment in Europe. This reflects a new situation, where Russia has become a more difficult actor,” a senior administration official told the Times.
Pentagon officials have named Hungary, Romania and the Baltic states as possible destinations for the increased US funding and deployments.