NATO Allies Put Forces on Standby Amid Fears of a Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Pentagon places 8,500 troops on “heightened preparedness to deploy.”
The NATO allies are strengthening their defenses in eastern Europe amid growing fears of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine. The United States and its European allies have placed troops on high alert as the continent faces one of the most significant security threats since the collapse of the Soviet Union almost thirty years ago.
“NATO Allies are putting forces on standby and sending additional ships and fighter jets to NATO deployments in eastern Europe, reinforcing Allied deterrence and defence as Russia continues its military build-up in and around Ukraine,” the defense alliance said in a statement on Monday.
Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and has demanded the NATO withdrawal from eastern Europe. Moscow appears to have been emboldened after President Joe Biden recently suggested that President Vladimir Putin’s regime would not face full-scale sanctions over a “minor incursion” into Ukraine.
The German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported the NATO reinforcement in Europe:
The NATO defense alliance on Monday said it was dispatching additional fighter jets and ships to Eastern Europe amid tensions with Russia.
The move could escalate tensions in the Ukraine-Russia crisis, after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any military buildup in the region by the trans-Atlantic military alliance would cross a “red line.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said US President Joe Biden and European leaders stand united with the western military alliance in their warning to Moscow that a Russian attack on Ukraine will provoke a tough response.
“We agree that any further aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have severe costs,” Stoltenberg said on Twitter after an online meeting with Biden, and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain and the European Union.
EU foreign ministers gathered in Brussels earlier to discuss a coordinated response to the crisis, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attending virtually. Meanwhile, the US, UK and other countries were withdrawing embassy staff from Ukraine amid security concerns.
The U.S. Department of Defense has put 8,500 troops on “heightened preparedness to deploy.” These troops may form the NATO Response Force (NRF), a 40,000-strong mobile multinational force deployed to counter possible Russian aggression, media reports suggest.
The Associated Press reported the U.S. military preparedness::
The Pentagon ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert Monday to potentially deploy to Europe as part of a NATO “response force” amid growing concern that Russia could soon make a military move on Ukraine. President Joe Biden consulted with key European leaders, underscoring U.S. solidarity with allies there.
Putting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine.
At stake, beyond the future of Ukraine, is the credibility of a NATO alliance that is central to U.S. defense strategy but that Putin views as a Cold War relic and a threat to Russian security. For Biden, the crisis represents a major test of his ability to forge a united allied stance against Putin.
Days after the news of the Biden State Department ordering a partial evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Ukraine, other Western allies have announced similar measures. Public broadcaster France24 reported that “Britain and Australia followed the United States in ordering diplomats’ families to leave Kyiv, while France told citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine.”
The massive Russian invasion force at the doorsteps of East Europe is a far cry from the get-tough-on-Putin image sold by President Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign. “Putin doesn’t want me to be President,” Biden declared in February 2020. “If you’re wondering why — it’s because I’m the only person in this field who’s ever gone toe-to-toe with him.”
Today, the Biden State Department is thinning out embassy staff in Kyiv and reacting to perhaps the most extensive Russian military mobilization in Europe since the end of the Cold War.
It is worth noting that Putin did not amass troops on this scale or threaten to invade Ukraine when President Donald Trump was in the White House. Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula, home to the strategic Black Sea naval base, from Ukraine in 2014 — during President Barack Obama’s tenure.
Biden may have forgotten he tweeted this, but we sure haven't… https://t.co/Ee8CGiAVRV
— Carla Sands (@CarlaHSands) January 24, 2022
With the Biden White House preoccupied with the Russian military threat in eastern Europe, China tests the U.S. resolve in Asia. On Sunday, dozens of Chinese warplanes and bombers entered neighboring Taiwan’s air defense zone.
“China’s air force flew 39 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone on Sunday,” British newspaper The Guardian reported. Since President Biden took the White House, Beijing has repeatedly threatened to invade the island nation, which the Chinese Communist Party regards as a renegade province.
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Comments
Let’s keep our eyes on Wikipedia for updates on the definition of “invasion”.
Look at our southern border for an accurate definition.
It has to be more than 1 million people per day to be considered an invasion. 500,000 would be considered an incursion. Anything less is a minor kerfuffle.
There is a better than average chance of a major online attack on US (or global) infrastructure. That pipeline attack in the South East was just a dry run.
With the US on its heals and the Dementia patient in Chief running the show, Putin will waltz right into Ukraine.
The same could be true for Taiwan but I’ve heard that Taiwan plans to go scorched earth and destroy all tech manufacturing and tooling. This is the sort of technology China doesn’t have and would be unable to get (except through the Russians) for decades if they invaded. Still the short term victory does not bode well for China’s near term nor long term benefits. So via the poison pills built into Taiwan, they have a modicum of safety. Gotta love the balls of a scorched earth plan.
“The same could be true for Taiwan but I’ve heard that Taiwan plans to go scorched earth and destroy all tech manufacturing and tooling. ”
That’s what I would do if I was Taiwan. Burn it all to the ground. I was thinking that’s what the US should do to Taiwan as well if it looks like it’s going to fall. Simply bomb all the tech manufacturing plants.
The rationale was it will take China 7-8 hours to get complete boots on the ground and 3X that for US forces (4x if you account for the time needed for the transgender teams to work out their pronouns and the brass to finish purging the wrong thinking extremists). China would have the upper hand.
Since everyone in the western world is for sale, I think China could recover in far less time than what was estimated, but the juice may still not be worth the squeeze.
Russia on the other hand has Europe by the balls with energy.
Ukraine is partially hemmed in on three sides by Belarus, Russia and the Russian Crimea. Any direct action toward the Donbas has flanks facing Russia ally or assets. I am very concerned that NATO (US) capabilities are lacking except for the contribution of former Warsaw Pact countries who would be fighting for their future lives in this.
All the plastic saber rattling by US senators and the Admin will not phase Russia. A defeat of any nature by NATO, either diplomatically or on the ground once this is fully amped up falls mainly on Brandon (Obama)….but paid for by all of us.
By the way…where’s Germany?
stacking forces on Poland’s border if history has taught us anything.
They are realizing who runs Barter Town and praying Putin does not turn off the natural gas supplies.
A few days ago, “He-who-cannot-remember-his-name”, also known as Bare Shelves Biden, asked the German Chancellor to come for a consultation about the Ukraine. The reason that you have not heard of such a visit is that Chancellor Olaf Scholz [replaced Merkel in December] said he did not have time. Publicly dissing he of the bare shelves.
Germany is looking for a comfortable place to bend over and take anything the Russians dictate.
Subotai Bahadur
Germany has told the Baltic states that they cannot transfer any lethal German made hardware to Ukraine, told their troops in Lithuania to stand down in event of an incursion and to only render medical and humanitarian assistance, and has informed the Brits they cannot use German airspace to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. Germany has dejure left NATO. The Germans do not want to have to once again suffer a Russian occupation. The Poles have been offered a swath of Ukraine seized by Stalin in 1939 in return for their cooperation. The Lithuanians have been offered a land swap in return for a land corridor between Belarus and Kalinagrad. The Russians and Ukrainans will meet in Paris where the French and Germans will inform them their issues must be settled peacefully because no one is going to give Ukraine any assistance whatsoever. The Germans are also sending two fully staffed field hospitals, no lethal weapons. Putin has offered the Ukrainian army incorporation with full rank and pay into the Russian military. As for sanctions its a laugh as Russia will not only control Europe;s energy supplies but also 35% of its food supply when it reunites with Ukraine. By the end of next month Russia will essentially have the same borders as Imperial Russia and the dominant force in both Eastern and Central Europe, and may well readopt the old Imperial flag of the Russian Empire. Hate him or love him Putin will shortly restore Russia to its former glory lost to the Bolsheviks.
“…phase Russia.”
We gonna use the “phasers” on them now? 🙂
Amid hopes for another western-backed violent coup, perchance unconditional surrender, for social justice and other “benefits”.
Scary times, something’s likely going to come to a head during Biden’s term and will leave whoever replaces him scrambling to deal with it. Whether it’s Ukraine, Taiwan, both (and hopefully not more) I fear they are going to suffer greatly thanks to Dementia Joe’s incompetence. Russia or China getting away with it without major consequences is going to be real bad news.
Taiwan is the one that has global security implications. If China takes Taiwan, it would control no less than 70% of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing capability. If you like the global silicon shortage today, you would love what it would be like after China absorbs Taiwan.
This assumes that any of Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity would still be around after the Chinese invasion. Either the Chinese would destroy it as they reduce the island, or the Taiwanese would destroy it to keep it out of the hands of the Chinese. Either way, I suspect there would be a long, long period in which that manufacturing capacity is just plain gone.
Lord, I hope the Taiwanese have the same outlook on the situation. We need to let them know they have automatic citizenship in the Western nations if China invades. They can then be sure they can destroy it all.
Biden let in Eastern Asians to dilute his “Latinx” invasion force?
He’d rather eat refritos ice cream.
see my comment above re scorched earth.
Only suckers pay NATO dues, when they can get all the member bennies for free.
Only suckers pay Equity and International Agreements for
CO2 Containment and Greenhouse Gases
Socialism on steroids.
USA should do nothing for Ukraine!
It is not part of NATO and USA should not fix all the world’s problems.
It makes more sense to send troops to the USA Mexican boarder!
The present Ukraine problem was created by the USA….. well… by the Obama administration abandoning (that word again) agreements with Ukraine and Russia. It is time for Europe to deal with this, but all they will do is run away as they are over the barrel with Russian energy needs.
Russia has had about 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s border for almost a year.
Suddenly the Biden Regime thinks this is an acute problem.
Even if the Ukrainian government doesn’t think anything has really changed in the last month or two.
Will they fight?
IMO, this episode just as in Crimea, aptly demonstrates that European NATO member States are unwilling to provide a meaningful troop presence outside the NATO footprint to deter Russia. Nor are they willing to use meaningful sanctions; reduce dependence upon Russian supplied energy. Lots of saber rattling and meaningless statements from joint press conference that might be enough to extend the life of NATO beyond the current situation. As an institution it’s day has passed. From a strategic perspective Russia could be useful as a northern and eastern check to China if the West can shake off the residual cold war mentality.
Let’s not forget that the West eventually used China as a counter poise to the Soviets in the last two decades of the cold war. Russia is not the Soviet Union, they lack the population, the economy and the military means to pose a conventional threat to western Europe. They can and will use cyber, espionage, infiltration, political/propaganda efforts and other asymmetric methods to defend their historical areas of influence and their own strategic interests and goals. Interests and goals which remain largely unchanged since the Czars.
Just wondering what Europe will do when Putin shuts off the pipeline. Biden has helpfully put the kibosh on the Israel to Europe pipeline.
Then there is the matter of what the USA will do when Putin stops selling us oil.
Biden is every bit the equal of AOC when it comes to profound ignorance.
My guess is he doesn’t shut down the pipeline. Instead there will be ‘incidents’ which unfortunately reduce the amount, which as a ‘coincidence’ raises the price and thus the amount of money flowing back to Russia. The Germans have made the choice at three key points to make themselves vulnerable to this sort of influence by Russia. Their influence, in the form of loans and EU economic support, led to other nations going along.
There is a huge difference in outlook between the former Warsaw Pact, Soviet client states and those that share a border with Russia and the outlook of many Western European states. The reasons are pretty clear.
You’re on the right track about Russia’s intentions. From the czars to the general secretaries to the presidents, Russia has always wanted a substantial buffer to the west. They understand very well (e.g., Napoleon, 1812; Hitler, 1941) how vital that space is. The current buffer is as small as it’s been in hundreds of years with the Baltics, Poland and most of Ukraine outside the Russian orbit. The Russians simply won’t willingly suffer such ontological anxiety. Putin understands that the Russian army isn’t what it used to be, but he’s going to get that buffer back.
A western buffer and warm water ports. Not to mention the Russian experience of invasion from the east. Plus the complications of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Russian view that they are it’s natural defender since the conquest of Byzantium; as weird as that sounds to those of us who grew up in the cold war facing an atheist Soviet Union.
Russia has a complex history and everyone who tries to affix simplistic labels is going to get it wrong. Heck, we spent untold $billions on Intel, espionage and academic research while completely overestimating the true strength of the Soviets and totally missed the mark on their collapse.
I understand that the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division is on alert and probably will deploy (in a combat team with artillery, engineers, and other usual combat support) – about 4,000 troops. Not sure to where (Poland?) or what the actual mission would be. Certainly not actual combat, unless something really goes off the rails.
Operation Wag The Dog…
Mission Purpose….Change the subject and make Biden look tough to boost Biden’s free fall poll numbers.
A few dead Americans is a small price to pay to accomplish this mission.
Just as killing a few more Floridians by prohibiting the further use of monoclonal antibodies to treat Covid is a small price to pay if it boosts Florida’s Covid death toll in relation to big blue states. And reasserts the Biden-Fauci axis’s power to dictate one-size-fits all Covid treatment. All effective Covid treatments must be prohibited to coerce the sheeple to get vaccinated, whatever the cost in lives.
The Biden Regime is evil.
“NATO Allies Put Forces on Standby…”
LOL, all 4 of them.
JHogan: “The Biden Regime is evil.”
Yes, very, like all commie regime’s.