As Ukraine war drags on, Pentagon makes long-term plans for Europe

Elbridge Colby, a former defense official in the Trump administration, said that it’s a “really serious concern” what the trend line might be in keeping additional forces in Europe as a result of Russia’s invasion, considering the United States is “doing badly in terms of the military balance in Asia.”

While the Pentagon has relied heavily on the U.S. Army to fortify security in Eastern Europe and would probably rely on the Navy and Air Force in the Pacific, there is more overlap than people realize, Colby said. The 82nd Airborne Division, which has thousands of soldiers deployed to Poland, requires air support and other high-end capabilities that also are needed elsewhere, he said.

“I think frankly that the president has this idea of: ‘We’re America. We can do anything,’” Colby said of President Biden. “But there are very real and immediate constraints. We need to face up to them and adapt, not ignore them.”

The Washington Post