The exercises have started and the first United States soldiers are starting to take up their stations in fellow NATO allies who are close to Ukraine and the current crisis between Ukraine and Russia. I believe these exercises are a very good start in reassuring the nations in this area that the United States will honor their commitments to these nations if they are called upon.
The problem is I don't think these exercises in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are going to be enough, sure it will show President Putin that if he decided he wanted to invade Ukraine and roll right into the border states in a bid to resurrect the Soviet Union (or his view of it) that the United States and the rest of NATO will not stand for it. More is going to need to happen, for instance a larger fleet of United States Navy ships need to show presence in the Black Sea, not just a destroyer every once in a while. The United States our NATO allies need to establish a Black Sea Fleet of their own, a 100% commitment to keeping the sea open for all nations.
Now I know their is no way we can put a aircraft carrier into the black sea but with United States Air Force and Marine Corp aviation assets operating in Europe can provide the perfect air cover, remember Turkey is part of NATO so by treaty the airfields in Turkey should be available for that option.
Now I am not a military strategist but I did spend 20 years in the United States Navy and know the effects of a battle group or task force showing up off some one's coast can have on other nations, and believe me a NATO task force backed up by fighter aircraft from shore could provide a punch that President Putin doesn't want to experience. The call the navy is used to hearing from the president is where is the aircraft carriers, however in this case I think he should be asking where are the cruisers and destroyers.
US troops arrive in Poland for exercises across Eastern Europe amid Ukraine crisis | Fox News
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