US, NATO switching 'assurance to deterrence' in E Europe

A top US general says the United States and NATO are switching their defense doctrine from assurance to deterrence in Eastern Europe over Russia’s behavior.

US General Philip Breedlove, the top US commander in Europe, said on Thursday in the Latvian capital Riga they face "a resurgent and aggressive Russia."  

"We are prepared to fight and win if we have to... our focus will expand from assurance to deterrence, including measures that vastly improve our overall readiness," Breedlove said after holding talks with Baltic region NATO commanders.

"To the east and north we face a resurgent and aggressive Russia, and as we have continued to witness these last two years, Russia continues to seek to extend its influence on its periphery and beyond," he added.

His comments come a day after the Pentagon said it would begin continuous rotations of an additional armored brigade of about 4,200 troops in Eastern Europe beginning next year.

Eastern NATO members, including Baltic states and Poland, have lobbied the Western alliance to increase its presence in the region.

"In the spring of 2017 what we will bring to Europe, and then again put into the three Baltic nations, is an armored brigade fully enabled with command and control and all of the supporting equipment required," Breedlove said.

The new measure, which will bring the US Army's presence three fully manned combat brigades, was stated as a response to "an aggressive Russia" amid a crisis in eastern Ukraine.

"This army implementation plan continues to demonstrate our strong and balanced approach to reassuring our NATO allies and partners in the wake of an aggressive Russia in Eastern Europe and elsewhere," said in a statement on Wednesday.

Russia has repeatedly warned against the permanent positioning of substantial forces along its border.

The Pentagon's proposed budget, unveiled by US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter last month, shows a four-fold rise for operations in Europe, standing at $3.4 billion.

According to Pentagon spokeswoman Laura Seal, "These efforts demonstrate strong alliances and partnerships backed by demonstrated capability, capacity and readiness to deter aggression."

"We have been clear that we will defend our interests, our allies and the principles of international order in Europe," she added.

The US and its allies accuse Moscow of supporting the Russian-speaking fighters in eastern Ukraine, and supplying their troops with military aid, reinforcements, and resources, allegations the Kremlin denies. 

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