US sends F-35 jets to Germany amid rising tensions in Eastern Europe
The United States has deployed F-35 fighter jets to Germany as part of a plan to bolster NATO forces amid rising tensions in Eastern Europe.
The jets were sent to Spangdahlem Air Base with pilots, maintainers and support personnel, the Air Force Reserve Command announced Wednesday.
It said that the deployment “is being conducted in full coordination with the German government and NATO military authorities.”
The F-35A Lightning II are capable of carrying out "a variety of missions to deter aggression and defend Allies should deterrence fail," it added.
Commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Erik Anthony also said that the deployment came as "we are facing a dynamic environment."
He added that the "this deployment significantly enhances our support to NATO's defenses."
Along with the F-35 jets, Washington sent six KC-135 Stratotankers to Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Eight F-15Es were also deployed to Poland.
The deployments came days after the US sent a B-52 Bomber Task Force to England for a “long-planned Bomber Task Force mission,” according to the Air Force.
The latest move comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Russia over Ukraine.
Washington and its NATO allies have been accusing Russia of plans to invade Ukraine by amassing about 150,000 troops and armaments near the border with Ukraine.
Moscow has vehemently rejected the allegations, saying the military build-up is defensive in nature, slamming NATO over its increased military activity near Russian borders.
In a major step toward de-escalation, Moscow also announced last week that some of the Russian troops deployed in areas bordering Ukraine would return to their bases.
It also released footage showing some tanks and armored vehicles being loaded onto railway flatcars.
Nevertheless, US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have again called on Russia to take “real steps towards de-escalation,” reiterating that they have seen no significant withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukraine border.
"The risk of a further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine remains high, utmost caution is required," according to a statement issued by the German chancellery on Wednesday about a phone call between Scholz and Biden on the same day.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already warned that the US is deliberately designing a scenario to lure Russia into a war over Ukraine.
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