Obama announces plans to increase U.S. military deployments to Europe

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President Barack Obama has announced plans for a $1bn fund to increase U.S. military deployments to Europe, during a visit to Poland, according to BBC News.

Obama, who will meet NATO leaders amid concerns over the Ukraine crisis, said the security of America's European allies was "sacrosanct".

In April, 150 U.S. soldiers were sent to Poland for military exercises amid growing tensions with Moscow. Obama will also visit Belgium and France during his tour.

On his arrival in Warsaw on Tuesday, June 3, Obama met U.S. and Polish air personnel from a small detachment of F-16 fighter jets based in Poland.

Obama said the U.S. commitment to the security of its allies in Europe was "a cornerstone of our own security".

"Given the situation in Ukraine right now, we have also increased our American presence. We've begun rotating additional ground troops and F-16 aircraft into Poland... to help our forces support NATO air missions," he said.

The $1bn European Reassurance Initiative he announced, to fund additional U.S. military rotations to Europe, will need congressional approval.

The proposal came "in light of the new security challenges on the continent", the White House said in a statement, adding: "These efforts will not come at the expense of other defense priorities, such as our commitment to the Asia Pacific rebalance."

Obama's emphasis on relations with Asian nations has left some Eastern European leaders feeling neglected in recent years, the BBC says.

During his trip, Obama will also meet Poland's president and prime minister, and a group of leaders from central and eastern European NATO countries.

In Belgium, the U.S. leader is expected to urge Western leaders to reaffirm their united position on Ukraine at a G7 meeting of major industrial nations. The summit had been initially planned in Russia, but Western leaders later decided to boycott it over Crimea.

In France, Obama will take part in ceremonies to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

President Vladimir Putin is also invited, but the White House has already made it clear that the American and Russian leaders will not hold formal bilateral talks.