By Lisa Ferdinando – DOD News
WASHINGTON — About 70 pieces of U.S. military equipment will arrive in Romania from Germany on Tuesday to support Operation Atlantic Resolve, a Pentagon spokesman said yesterday.
Other equipment will arrive in Bulgaria and Lithuania later in December, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced during a trip to Estonia earlier this year that the U.S. will temporarily stage enough vehicles and associated equipment in Central and Eastern Europe to support an armored brigade combat team.
The placement allows U.S. rotational forces in the region to move more quickly and easily to participate in training and exercises, Davis explained.
The equipment in Romania will be the first set arriving in that country, the captain said.
The items are part of the European Activity Set, which includes some 12,000 pieces of equipment, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery. The EAS equipment will be moved around the region for training and exercises as needed, he said.
Carter also announced earlier this year that Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania agreed to host company- to battalion-sized elements of EAS equipment. Germany already hosts EAS equipment.
The gear will be used in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve training and exercises that demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the collective defense of NATO allies, Davis told DoD News following the briefing.
“These continuing engagements strengthen our ability to work effectively among our allies, enhance trust, and help build enduring relationships that will be the foundation for future security in the region,” he said.
Storing the U.S. equipment within allied and partner nations allows regionally allocated forces easier access to that equipment when and where it is needed for training, which saves time, resources and money, Davis added.
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