Biden may announce plans to keep higher number of U.S. troops in NATO countries near Ukraine

During his trip to Europe this week, President Joe Biden could announce that the U.S. plans to permanently maintain an increased number of U.S. troops deployed in NATO countries near Ukraine, according to four people familiar with the discussions.

The president, who is attending a NATO summit on Thursday, recently reviewed options for permanent increases in the number of U.S. troops in Eastern Europe, and Poland is among the possible locations for the additional forces, the sources said.

“We are looking at additional troop posture adjustments,” an administration official said, adding that no final decisions have been made.

“At the summit,” said the official, “we expect NATO leaders to review the alliance’s current deterrent and defensive force posture, especially in light of the deteriorated security environment caused by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine.”