NATO strengthens the defense of the Baltic region

• In Valga, a new headquarters for the region and the Alliance’s second command zone was announced.
• Chris Donahue said the United States is ready to act together with European allies in the event of an attack.
• Boris Pistorius called the changes proof of unity and readiness to defend NATO territory.

The United States will not leave European allies alone in the event of a Russian attack on the Baltic states, said U.S. General Chris Donahue, who commands U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa and NATO forces in Europe. He said this during a ceremony in Valga, Estonia, where a new NATO headquarters for the Baltic region was also announced.

Donahue stressed that American troops are ready to act together with European forces. According to him, deterrence is built not on words, but on the presence of troops on the ground.

NATO has created a second command zone covering the Baltic states and Poland. This is intended to make it possible to station more troops closer to Russia’s borders. Previously, the entire region was subordinate to a single multinational headquarters in Szczecin, Poland.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called this a demonstration of the Alliance’s unity and readiness to defend every inch of its territory. According to NATO, the new structure is also linked to assessments that Russia could pose a threat to Alliance territory if military buildup continues.

Separately, Donahue noted that his words differ from recent statements by Donald Trump, who suggested that Europe might be left on its own with the Russian army in the event of war.

Tags: Ukraine/Europe/Politics