Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Monday said the United States will supply weapons, aircraft and soldiers for NATO's rapid reaction force to help European states defend against what Washington imagines to be "security threats."
Under the plan, the US will contribute intelligence and surveillance capabilities, special operations forces, logistics, transport aircraft, and a range of weapons support that could include bombers, fighters and ship-based missiles, the Associated Press reported.
Carter announced the new details about the US contribution while in Berlin, the first of several stops in Europe.
There has been no final decision on the number of troops that will participate, but the US says it will not provide a large ground force. However many US soldiers are committed will join troops from Germany, Norway and the Netherlands, which had agreed to provide the initial troops for the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).
No US troops or equipment will move immediately, but instead would be made available within 48-72 hours if requested, and approved by American leaders, in response to a crisis, the AP reported.
Carter said the US is contributing aid "because the United States is deeply committed to the defense of Europe, as we have been for decades." Despite the expansion of forces in Eastern Europe, Carter said the US is not looking for a conflict with Russia.
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