President Barack Obama is preparing to ask Congress for $1 billion in financial aid to help European allies boost national security initiatives amid an escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia, USA Today reported Tuesday.David Jackson writes that the money would support European military exercises and training activities in the air, at sea and on land.
“We will continue to take actions that increase the capability, readiness and responsiveness of NATO forces to address any threat,” according to a White House statement obtained by USA Today.
“A persistent U.S. air, land, and sea presence in the region, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, is a necessary and appropriate show of support to allies.”
The newspaper reports that the White House also vowed to back non-NATO countries near the Russian border.
President Obama is on a four-day trip to Warsaw, Poland to discuss security issues with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Bronislaw Komorowski.
