Department of Defense unveils new information on military equipment to be deployed in Europe, Romania included

U.S. Department of Defense unveiled details on the European Activity Set to be deployed in seven NATO countries in Europe, Romania included.

“In coordination with our Allies, the United States intends to place temporarily approximately 250 tanks, Bradleys, and self-propelled howitzers, and associated armored brigade combat team equipment in Baltic and Central European countries in order to support training and exercises by rotational units deployed to Europe.  This equipment set, termed the European Activity Set (EAS), will consist of company- to battalion-size equipment sets located on the territory of several NATO Allies including:  Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania,” reads the fact sheet.

 Proposed EAS storage sites were selected based on their proximity to the training ranges where we expect the equipment to be used most often.  Forward placement will help reduce transportation costs and enable the maximum amount of training days for deployed forces.To demonstrate the U.S. Armed Forces’ freedom of movement in the region, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) will routinely move the equipment throughout Europe to support training and exercises, the Department of Defense argues, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest.

According to the above-mentioned source, since early March 2014, the United States has taken action, both bilaterally and through NATO, to reassure Allies of the ironclad U.S. commitment to collective defense.  The United States, along with NATO Allies, has established a persistent, rotational air, land, and sea presence in the Baltic and Central European countries.  This presence is an appropriate and important show of support to Allies that are deeply concerned by Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

The Carl Levin and Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 and Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 provided $985 million in ERI funding that enables DoD to continue its efforts to reassure our NATO Allies and bolster the security and capacity of our partners in the region.  The ERI included line-item operation and maintenance funding to increase the amount of equipment to support a full brigade and to refurbish equipment storage facilities.