{"id":57835,"date":"2019-03-05T20:31:36","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T20:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/03\/05\/top-us-general-seeks-more-troops-warships-in-europe-to-counter-russia\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:16:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:16:41","slug":"top-us-general-seeks-more-troops-warships-in-europe-to-counter-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2019\/03\/05\/top-us-general-seeks-more-troops-warships-in-europe-to-counter-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"Top US general in Europe seeks more troops, warships to counter Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The top U.S. military commander in Europe warned Tuesday of a growing Russian threat and is calling for more troops, warships and aircraft, saying he\u2019s \u201cnot comfortable yet with the deterrent posture\u201d of the American troop presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti<\/a>, both head of U.S. European Command and the NATO Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that it will take more armored units and U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers, carrier strike groups<\/a> and amphibious strike groups to stay ahead of Russia\u2019s growing and modernizing forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not comfortable yet with the deterrent posture that we have in Europe in support of the National Defense Strategy<\/a>,\u201d Scaparrotti told SASC Chair Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., adding: \u201cOf concern is my intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacity given that increasing and growing threat of Russia. I need more ISR.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scaparotti said he has requested two more destroyers for Naval Station Rota, Spain, where the U.S. Navy has four Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyers, which carry the Aegis weapon system. He said he needed better numbers and capabilities, \u201cto stay head of, frankly, the modernization we see in Russia\u2019s maritime forces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guided-missile destroyer Donald Cook<\/a> this week departed the Black Sea \u2014 one of two such deployments there since the Russian seizure of three Ukrainian vessels and arrest of 24 sailors in late November at the Kerch Strait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress funded the European Deterrence Initiative at $6.3 billion last year, and the Trump administration is due to unveil its FY20 federal budget request next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\t