The U.S. military needs stable funding as it increases deployments in Europe to help train NATO allies to deter Russian aggression, the head of U.S. European Command told lawmakers Wednesday.
Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove said the military's, and particularly the Air Force's, ability to quickly respond to situations in Europe is based on the ability to base or forward deploy aircraft and personnel on the continent in the country. At the beginning of Operation Atlantic Resolve, Air Force jets were able to start flying from Poland within 18 hours because "we were there, forward and ready," Breedlove told the House Armed Services Committee.
The continued presence in Europe is contingent on stable funding, and on Congress blocking the return of sequestration next year, said Christine Wormuth, Defense Department undersecretary for policy, added.
"Our footprint in Europe gives us the capability to defend our security interests … reassure allies and deter aggression," she Wormuth said at the hearing. "In a time of limited resources, however, the U.S, has to be more innovative and explore new posture arrangements."
The Air Force has a long list of planned deployments and exercises this year in Eastern Europe. Those deployments include which began with the theater security package of A-10s that landed in Germany earlier this month. Air Force jets throughout this year will fly in exercises in countries such as Romania, Estonia and Bulgaria.
"It's important we have the ability to bring in rotational forces," Breedlove said. "But rotational forces are only good if they have solid fiscal backing in order to make them work."
These training missions are designed to increase help allied nations' readiness become more ready to address the threat of a resurgent Russia in the region, and take pressure off the U.S. by in their involvement in Operation Atlantic Resolve.
"The readiness and capability is the thing we are working on together, to raise the capability of the NATO alliance," Breedlove said.
The U.S. has had a rotational force in the Baltics since the operation began last March 6, when the Air Force deployed six F-15Cs to augment four already in Lithuania to take over the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. Since then, the Air Force has had established a constant training deployment in Poland, Breedlove said.
"Time and again, our allies and partners in Europe have proven essential to U.S. military operations by allowing us access, including bases, transit and overflight rights for U.S. forces, as well as providing enhanced legitimacy and operational capability through the participation of ally and partner nation military forces in undertakings in Europe, around Europe and often far from Europe," Breedlove said in testimony.
