Biden allows Pentagon to deploy 3,000 Reservists to Europe.

President Joe Biden Deploys Military Reservists to Europe

In a bold move, President Joe Biden has issued an order that will allow the Pentagon to call up to 3,000 military reservists for deployment to Europe. This decision comes as tensions with Russia continue to escalate.

The president’s order, released by the White House, states that it is “necessary to augment” the current U.S. forces stationed in Europe. The Washington Post reports that there are approximately 80,000 troops already on a mission to deter further Russian aggression, which has been ongoing for over 500 days.

Under Biden’s order, up to 450 troops can be pulled from the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), a group that includes service members nearing the end of their enlistment contracts. These reservists are no longer required to attend regular drills and training.

Supporting NATO’s Eastern Flank

Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, the director for operations on the Joint Staff, expressed his support for the president’s decision, stating that it will enable the Department of Defense to better support and sustain its enhanced presence and level of operations. He emphasized that this move reaffirms the unwavering commitment to the defense of NATO’s eastern flank in the face of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine.

This is not the first time the Biden administration has taken action to bolster forces in Eastern Europe. Last year, just before Russia invaded Ukraine, extra service members were deployed to the region.

Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, highlighted that Biden’s new order ensures that National Guard or reserve forces supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve will receive the same benefits as their active duty counterparts.

Aid and Assistance

While President Biden has made it clear that he will not send troops to fight Russian forces in Ukraine, the United States has provided significant aid to support the defensive efforts. Tens of billions of dollars have been sent to Ukraine to assist in their fight against Russian aggression.

Recently, the U.S. sent cluster bombs to Ukraine, despite their ban in over 100 countries due to the danger they pose to civilians. President Biden defended this decision, stating that Ukraine’s defenders are running out of ammunition and need the weapons to halt the Russian advance.

“The main thing is they either have the weapons to stop the Russians now from their — keeping them from stopping the Ukrainian offensive through these areas, or they don’t. And I think they needed them,” Biden explained in an interview with CNN.

The president’s order comes on the heels of a NATO summit in Vilnius, where Biden reiterated the commitment of the U.S. and its allies to support Ukraine. However, he also emphasized that the war in Ukraine must come to an end before the country can be considered for NATO membership.

As tensions continue to rise, President Biden’s deployment of military reservists to Europe sends a clear message of support and solidarity with our allies in the face of Russian aggression.

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