Obama asks for USD 1 billion to boost US military in Europe
Warsaw: President Barack Obama called on Congress on Tuesday to back a USD 1 billion effort to boost US military presence across Europe, as he sought to ease anxiety among NATO allies who are wary of Russia’s threatening moves in Ukraine. Officials said Obama was also seeking to ramp up US Navy participation in NATO deployments in the Black and Baltic Seas, plus working to boost the military capacity of non-NATO countries that sit on Russia’s border, including Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.
Minutes after landing in Poland, Obama declared that European security was the “cornerstone of our own security and it is sacrosanct.”
“It is a commitment that is particularly important at this time,” Obama said, standing in front of American and Polish F-16 fighter jets.
The president’s visit to Warsaw coincides with the 25th anniversary of Poland emerging from communism. Obama also planned to meet with Group of 7 leaders in Brussels before heading to France to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion that eventually led to Allied victory in World War II.
After viewing the F-16 fighters, Obama headed to Warsaw’s Belweder Palace for a meeting with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski. Following their private talks, the two leaders were to hold a news conference.
