Eastern europe. About 2,000 troops are going to poland and another 700 are going to rumania as well as other countries in the southEastern Flank of nato. The reason for this is because of the anxiety these allies are feeling in the midst of this massive russian troop buildup in ukraine. The president did hint at this last week. He said he would be moving those troops to Eastern Europe in the near term, but he did not say when that would be happening. We are told these deployments could be coming in the coming days. What were told is this is coming at a time when these allies are feeling very, very anxious about this russian aggression there, and this is a show of support for those allies. This is not a precursor to any kind of u. S. Troops on the ground in ukraine. This is just those troops going to Eastern Europe to shore up that flank and reassure them that the u. S. Is there in the event that russia does invade ukraine and tries to move even further west, jim. Ambassador, let me bring you in, because im just were going to take you live to the pentagon now because of the john kirby announcement. Lets listen in. I think, as you heard Secretary Austin just last friday in his remarks with the chairman here in the briefing room, we remain focused on the evolving situation in europe and russias arctions on the Ukranin Border and belarus. As the secretary said, the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with our nato allies. The Current Situation demands that we reinforce the defense and posture on natos Eastern Flank. President biden has been clear that the United States will respond to the growing threat of their growing instability. The defense remains ironclad. Despite this commitment and to prepare fire range of consistencies, the United States will soon move Additional Forces to rumania, poland and germany. I want to be very clear about something. These are not permanent moves. They are moves designed to respond to the current security environment. Moreover, these forces are not going to fight in ukraine. They are going to ensure the robust defense of our nato allies. Now, let me lay this out for you in a series of three steps. First, 1,000 soldiers that are currently based in germany will reposition to romania in the coming days. This is a Striker Squadron, a mounted cavalry unit thats designed to deploy in short order and to move quickly once in place. And they will augment the sum of 900 u. S. Forces that are currently in romania. This force is designed to deter aggression and enhance our defensive capabilities in frontline allied states. We expect them, as i said, to move in coming days. Secretary austin discussed this repositioning to romania just last week in his conversation with the romanian minister of defense. Again, i want to stress that this move is coming at the express invitation of the romanian government. Additionally, we welcome french president macrons announcement that france intends to deploy forces under nato. We discussed that with the french minister just last week. The United States will continue to coordinate with france and all our allies to make sure we complement each other in our res respective deployments. Of course, were going to continue to work through nato to make Defensive Posture alignments. Second, we are moving an additional force of approximately 2,000 troops from the United States to europe in the next few days. The 82nd Airborne Division is deploying components of an Infantry Brigade to poland and the 18th Airplane borne corps is moving Task Force Headquarters to germany. Both of them, as you know, are based in fort bragg, North Carolina. Collectively this force is trained and equipped for a variety of missions, to defend our allies. Not surprisingly, we worked closely with our polish and german allies to affect these movements and we absolutely appreciate their support. Again, these are not permanent moves. They respond to current conditions. We will adjust our posture as those conditions evolve. Third and finally, all of these forces are separate and in addition to the 8500 personnel in the United States on high alert posture i announced last week. Those 8500 are not currently deployed but ready to move if called for the Nato Response force or as needed for other contingencies as directed by the secretary or President Biden. We continue to review our Force Posture in the situation in europe, and we will make adjustments as the situation warrants. I also want to take this opportunity to correct some misconceptions around last weeks announcement. Nato as an organization does not have veto power over Troop Deployments and media on the contrary is misrepresentative of that. We are making Force Movements, including those movements of high readiness. This i were mindful of the competing needs of security and our obligation to be transparent, and well provide you information on these and other movements as available and as appropriate. As we long have said, we are continuously reviewing our posture, so there may soon be posture positions to announce, including ongoing exercises. This is not the sum total of deterrence actions we will take or those to reassure our allies. I think it wont surprise you we take a theaterwide approach to deterrence and defense, and we welcome the additional announcements by spain, denmark, the u. K. And the netherlands of their consideration to deploy Additional Forces to reinforce natos Eastern Flank. The United States has capabilities distributed across europe, including in the baltic region, and we will continue to assess needs in that area in cooperation with relevant allies and of course a full nato alliance. We stand united. We have said that repeatedly. We say it again today. These movements are unmistakable signals to the world that we stand ready to reassure our nato allies and defend against any aggression. Now, as the secretary said friday, we do not know if russia has made a final decision to further invade ukraine. But it clearly has that capability. The Department Of Defense will continue to support diplomatic efforts led by the white house and State Department to press for resolution. We do not believe conflict is inevitable. The United States in lock step with our allies and partners has allowed russia a path to deescalate. But we will take all prudent measures to assure our own security and those of our allies. I note that in the past few hours, a proposal made by the United States leaked to a european news outlet. We did not make this document public. But now that it is, it confirms to the entire world what we have always been saying. There is no daylight between our public statements and our private discussions. Nato and its partners are unified in their resolve and open to constructive and serious diplomacy. The United States has gone the extra mile to find a diplomatic solution. And if russia actually wants to negotiate a solution, as it claims it does, this document certainly makes clear that there is a path forward to do so. With that well take questions, starting with you, leta. Reporter john, thanks. A couple ditetails on this. Is it still 800 total or are there additional ones . There is a brigade in fort carson that is already scheduled to rotate into europe. Are you including them . Theres been some confusion. Are you including that Carson Brigade in the Deployment Orders or are they completely separate because theyre an already scheduled deployment . And then one other are there more are these troops that are going, are they under nato or are these all unilateral u. S. Moves . Thank you. Let me see if i can remember all those. The troops that im talking about today will be going under u. S. Command, but as i said, in the case of romania, we know the french are going to be preparing to deploy troops there. We will find ways to complement that force presence, again, in full consultation with romania. I wouldnt describe these as unilateral moves. This is a bilateral arrangement between the United States and romania. But to your question, they will be going under u. S. Command. The 8500, they still remain on prepare to deploy orders. As i talked about last monday, the vast majority of them is designed for a nato force. That force hasnt been activated so they arent going anywhere. The secretary has, as you might imagine, as we have worked towards these troop movements, there have been Additional Forces put on the prepare to deploy orders or shortened tethers. Im not prepared to go into great detail today about that, but yes, there have been additional ones. As i said in my opening statement, you can expect that will continue to happen going forward. Were going to constantly look at the conditions in the region and consult with allies and partners. If we feel we need to make Additional Forces more ready, well do that. If we feel we need to send more forces to certain Eastern Flank countries, well do that, too, in full consultation with nato and in full consultation with the specific allies and partners. And i think i missed one of your questions, leta. Reporter i just wanted im going to have to take that one, leta, because i dont have the breakdown of every single unit in that original 8500 in front of me. Let me just take that rather than speculate and guess. Jen . Reporter john, do you have any evidence that putin plans to move beyond ukraines borders . Why are you bolstering these Eastern Flank allies if you do not have evidence of that . Because its important that we send a strong signal to mr. Putin, and frankly to the world, that nato matters to the United States, it matters to our allies. We have ironclad article 5 commitments. An attack on one is an attack on all. We know that he also bristles about nato, and he has made no secret of that. We are making it clear that were going to be prepared to defend our nato allies if it comes to that. Hopefully it wont come to that. Conflict is not inevitable. There is no reason for there to be ongoing conflict in ukraine or anywhere else in the europe can continent, and mr. Putin can go a long way to serving that end by taking seriously the proposals we have put forward diplomatically and by Deh Deescalating and moving some of those troops away. Is there anything youre seeing that those troops that are outside ukraine might carry on to poland and romania . What we see, jen, is that he continues to destabilize the environment by adding more forces in the part of his country and along belarus. In addition to additional activity in the north atlantic. He clearly is providing himself many options, lots more capabilities. For exactly what purpose, we dont know right now. And because we dont know exactly what his purpose is, we want to make sure were ready on the nato front to defend our allies. Barbara . Reporter i want to follow up on jens question. You said in the beginning the Current Situation demands we reinforce. So what specifically demands the reinforcement that you are laying out today . And the reason i ask this, this is bilateral, as you said. Originally you spoke at length several days ago about the Nato Response force. They have not activated that. You were moving ahead bilaterally not under a nato umbrella, anyhow. So what signal does that send that youre not waiting for a nato vote, and what is the Current Situation that demands this reinforcement outside of russia, outside of ukraine. I dont think i heard a specific answer. I think the signal it sends is that were moving additional u. S. Forces into allied territory at the request and with the invitation of those countries is that we take our nato commitments very, very seriously. I put that right in the opening statement. And as for i think your question is why now. I dont understand id like an explanation why youre doing this now without a vote at nato which does not appear readily apparent for them to activate the response force. What has led you to say, okay, the United States will act on a bilateral basis. You have the invitations. You could have waited for a nato vote. You decided not to. Its not just us, barb. Other nations, i mentioned germany, france, other nations are likewise discussing in bilateral ways with Eastern Flank nations the addition of forces and capabilities to those nations. So its not just the United States, its other nato allies that are doing this. You talk about this vote thing. Lets be clear. What i think youre getting at is the Nato Response force. Thats a 40,000personstrong force that is designed for high readiness, and that is a decision that the alliance and only the alliance can make. We have a contribution to that. We have gotten those forces a l le alerted to be ready if needed. The president can do a bilateral movement as well, he can do that. Its not like the alliance has a Veto Authority on any of those troops were preparing to deploy. In terms of why now, heres a couple of factors. Mr. Putin continues to add forces, combined arms, offsetting capabilities. Even over the last 24 hours, he continues to add in western russia, in belarus, the mediterranean and the north atl atlantic. He has shown no signs to be able to deescalate the tensions. Its not just the United States that knows this, nato knows this. We have shared our perspectives of what were seeing with them, they have shared their perspectives with us. Now with respect to these bilateral perspectives, we are prepared to make these moves. I say again these are temporary moves, not permanent deployments, not permanent basing. And two, we are not ruling out the possibility there will be more coming up in future days and weeks. So my last question, the bottom line here is you cannot, the United States, the pentagon, the white house, you right now could not rule out the possibility that putin could make a move outside of ukraine into an East European country thats natofriendly with the u. S. And allies. You cant rule out hell make an additional move beyond ukraine. In or out with this announcement, barb. This isnt about an intel assessment about what mr. Putin will or wont do. As i said in my opening statement, we still dont believe hes made a decision to further invade ukraine. And if he does further invade ukraine, obviously there will be consequences for that, but he has many options and capabilities available to him as to how he might do that. And we simply dont know. We want to make sure that he knows any move on nato is going to be resisted and its going to trigger article 5 and were going to be committed to the defense of our allies. Thats what this is all about. Yeah, david. Reporter when President Biden previewed this last week and he said he would be sending forces in the near term, he also said not a lot. Do you consider 3,000 not a lot, and how does adding 1,000 troops, infantry troops, stop the kind of force that youve been describing that russia has been amassing in western russia and belarus . We think that these orders that the secretary is giving today are very much in keeping with the president s comments. And to your other question, i remind again that we hold the option open of additional Force Movements if thats desired and needed. So the steps im talking about today could very well be preliminary steps to future ones that we might take. And to your other question about, you know, is that enough, again, i will remind you that rom romania, as a solid state, has their own troops and a very capable one at that. As i said earlier, the french will be sending additional troops out. Ill let them speak to what theyre going to do and what timeline and how much. As i also said in my opening statements, other countries are likewise moving forward to provide bolstering capabilities to nato allies on the Eastern Flank. Reporter how long will it take these troops to get into position, and do you expect the Infantry Combat Team from fort bragg to jump in . Im not going to talk about the specifics of their movement, but as i said in my opening statement, we expect them to start moving in coming days. I dont have a more specific timeline for you in terms of exact departure date and exact arrival. Obviously it will be it will be obvious when they get there, and certainly well try to keep you informed all the way. Court . Reporter youve made it clear these troops wont be very long in ukraine and there wont be combat. But can you say they will be used for evacuation . Is it possible they could be used for that . As you heard the secretary say on friday, our troops are multimission capable, and they will be prepared for a range of contingencies, and i wont go further than that. Reporter is that why the