Report: Biden deploying 3,000 more US paratroopers to Poland Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division depart a Boeing 747 aircraft in Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, Poland, Feb. 8, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Slater)
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President Joe Biden has reportedly ordered 3,000 more U.S. troops to deploy to Poland, amid mounting concerns Russia could invade neighboring Ukraine at any time.
Four U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the new troops would consist of paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, not U.S. troops currently stationed in Europe.
The plans to deploy these additional 82nd Airborne troops comes a week after Biden ordered a separate contingent of at least 3,000 U.S. troops to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations neighboring Ukraine.
The officials said the new 82nd Airborne troops are expected to arrive in Poland by next week.
Reuters reporter Idrees Ali tweeted, “The deployments are aimed at reassuring NATO allies and will not go into Ukraine.”
The deployments are aimed at reassuring NATO allies and will not go into Ukraine.
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) February 11, 2022
The new reported troop movement comes on the same day National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said signs indicate Russia could invade Ukraine at any time, including during the Olympics.
Sullivan said Friday that the U.S. and its allies don’t have any specific intelligence indicating Russian President Vladimir Putin has reached a decision to invade, but “there is a credible prospect that a Russian military action would take place even before the end of the Olympics.”
Sullivan reiterated the Biden administration’s calls for Americans to leave Ukraine. Sullivan said Americans should try to get out within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Japan and South Korea also ordered their citizens to evacuate Ukraine on Friday, citing the worsening security situation.
