Biden orders to strengthen US military presence in the Baltic states in response to Russia’s decision not to withdraw troops from Belarus

February 23, BPN. US President Joe Biden ordered to strengthen the US military presence in the Baltic states in response to Russia’s decision not to withdraw troops from Belarus after the Union Resolve 2022 exercises.

“Today, in response to Russia’s admission that it will not withdraw its forces from Belarus, I have authorized additional movements of US forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic Allies – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania,” Biden said in an address on the occasion of the introduction of US sanctions against Russia in response to its recognition of the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.

On February 20, the last day of the Union Resolve 2022 exercises, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin announced the extension of the Union State response forces inspection. As he said, this decision was made by Russian president Vladimir Putin and Aliaksandr Lukašenka in connection with the “increase in military activities at the external borders of the Union State” and “aggravation of the situation in Donbas.”