United States troops were sent to Poland to complete military exercises in response to Russia’s interference in Ukraine. The troops are the first of about 600 that will be sent to Eastern Europe for military practice.
Other soldiers will go to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to complete the exercises Fox News reports.
“It’s a very tangible representation of our commitment to our security obligations in Europe, and the message is to the people of those countries and to the alliance that we do take it seriously,” Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. Kirby said. “And we encourage our NATO partners to likewise look for opportunities of their own to do this same kind of thing for one another.”
Kirby said that the Pentagon plans to keep troops rotating throughout the four Eastern European countries for the remainder of the year.
The exercises are a part of the plan that Defense Secretary Church Hagel announced last week to reassure NATO members that the United States is committed to supporting its allies. But the military exercises may send Russia a message as well.
“...I think if there’s a message to Moscow, it is the same exact message -- that we take our obligations very, very seriously on the continent of Europe,” Kirby said.
Publication date: April 23, 2014
