Austin Places 8,500 Troops on Heightened Readiness to Deploy to Europe

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has placed 8,500 U.S. service members to heightened preparedness to deploy given Russia’s continuing provocations along its border with Ukraine, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said today.

Kirby said the order highlights America’s commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its commitment to the common defense. “As [President Joe Biden] has made clear, the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us, our allies or partners,” Kirby said during a news conference.