In the US view, the military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe are protecting national interests, defending the credibility of US policy, and assuaging eastern members’ fears.

       The United States is developing improved air defense and other capabilities to counter Russia’s alleged violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Brian McKeon said in written testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 13, 2016.

       At the same time the United States builds up its presence in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Clifford Kupchan, Research Director for Russia and Eurasia, Eurasia Group, shared his thoughts with about the reasons of the current US military actions. valdaiclub.com

       The United States began boosting its military deployments to Central and Eastern Europe in 2014 under the European Reassurance Initiative, which includes short-term deployments, military equipment, and training exercises. The US will increase its military presence in Eastern Europe by deploying an additional armored brigade, bringing the total Army presence in Europe up to three fully-manned brigades.

       Trust between Washington and Moscow was strained severely by the Ukraine crisis. American decision-makers are unsure about, and suspicious of, Russian intentions toward US allies in central and eastern Europe. These deployments are a way of signaling American objections to Russian policy in Ukraine and deterring other aggressive action -- without shutting the door to future discussions that may eventually solve the Ukraine crisis and begin rebuilding trust.

       In both Washington and eastern Europe, Russian statements about the need to protect Russian-speakers abroad raises concern. The Baltic states particularly fear this justification may be used as a pretext for Russian interference in their countries. Beyond the Baltics, there is a debate in the US about whether Russia could one day test NATO Article 5 guarantees.

       Washington considers the central and eastern European states to be close allies, and perceives their sovereignty and independence to be critically important national interests. In addition, as the primary power in NATO, the United States also considers trust among members of the alliance to be a core interest. If eastern member-states believe the United States would not come to their defense in a crisis, the alliance would become unviable. Therefore, in the US view, the deployments are protecting national interests, defending the credibility of US policy, and assuaging eastern members’ fears.

       The bottom line is that the US and Russia must work ever more intensively to bring a resolution to the Ukraine crisis. That conflict is the cause of the current mistrust and standoff in relations. The Minsk benchmarks are clearly laid out, and Russia, the US, Ukraine, the EU, the OSCE must work creatively and flexibly to bring the Ukraine episode to a peaceful end. If that happens, the distrust that is driving mutual military deployments would abate.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.