New in 2023: US troops in Europe to continue deployments, training

Roughly 20,000 troops mobilized in Europe in support of NATO since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are on track to stay in place going into the new year, training not only with local partners, but with Ukrainian troops outside of their country.

The Pentagon announced Dec. 15 that monthly rotations of 500 Ukrainian troops would travel to U.S. Army ranges in Germany for combined arms maneuver training, an effort to reinforce their formations as they enter a second year of fighting back against the Russians.

In Lithuania, the U.S. will upgrade its periodic deployments to a consistent, heel-to-toe rotation schedule, the U.S. embassy announced Dec. 7. Units will include a field artillery battery and an armored element with several hundred soldiers.

“As President Biden has said, we are committed to defending every inch of NATO territory,” U.S. Ambassador Robert Gilchrist said in a release. “These U.S. deployments demonstrate this commitment, and while we continue to adapt our force posture in the region, we are committed to maintaining a persistent, heel-to-toe presence in the region and intensifying training with our Baltic Allies to maintain combat credible capabilities and to enhance our defense and deterrence posture.”

Pentagon officials have said there are no current plans to draw down U.S. military presence in Europe, which numbers roughly 100,00 troops since spring 2022.

Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.

自俄罗斯入侵乌克兰以来，约有 2 万名士兵在欧洲动员起来支援北约，他们将继续驻扎到新年，不仅与当地伙伴进行训练，还与乌克兰军队在乌克兰境外进行训练。

五角大楼于 12 月 15 日宣布，每月将有 500 名乌克兰士兵轮换前往德国的美国陆军靶场进行联合兵种机动训练，以加强其部队实力，因为他们已进入与俄罗斯作战的第二年。

美国驻立陶宛大使馆于12月7日宣布，美国将把在立陶宛的定期部署升级为持续的轮换部署计划。部署部队将包括一个野战炮兵连和一个拥有数百名士兵的装甲部队。

美国驻波罗的海大使罗伯特·吉尔克里斯特在一份声明中表示：“正如拜登总统所说，我们致力于捍卫北约的每一寸领土。美国的这些部署体现了这一承诺。虽然我们将继续调整在该地区的兵力部署，但我们致力于在该地区保持持续的、步调一致的存在，并加强与波罗的海盟国的联合训练，以维持可靠的作战能力，并提升我们的防御和威慑态势。”

五角大楼官员表示，目前没有计划减少美国在欧洲的军事存在，自 2022 年春季以来，美国在欧洲的军事存在人数约为 10 万人。

梅根·迈尔斯是《军事时报》五角大楼分社社长。她负责报道影响军人的作战、政策、人事、领导力及其他相关议题。