JUST IN: Biden Calls Up to 3,000 Reserve Troops For Active Duty Abroad

Joe Biden on Thursday ordered up to 3,000 military reservists to active duty in Europe.

“I am providing notice that I have authorized the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, to order to active duty members and units of the Selected Reserve and appropriately designated Individual Ready Reserve members, without the consent of the member concerned, pursuant to 12304(a) of title 10, United States Code,” a White House statement read.

“Reserve mobilizations under this authorization are not to exceed 3,000 total members at any one time, of whom not more than 450 may be members of the Individual Ready Reserve. These Reserve Component forces are to augment the active forces for Operation Atlantic Resolve to enhance the United States’ ability to sustain its heightened level of presence and operations in support of United States European Command,” the statement continued.

BREAKING: Biden Orders 3,000 Reservists To Be Ready For Europe Deployments https://t.co/GWnIb3yH7J

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 13, 2023

Joe Biden’s executive order comes on the heels of his five-day trip to Europe where he attended a NATO summit.

Military.com reports:

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Thursday that will allow the Pentagon to tap into reserve forces for deployment to Europe as part of its long-standing NATO mission on the continent.

According to a copy of the order released by the White House, it allows the military to use up to 3,000 reserve service members to augment its forces in Europe, which grew in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Pentagon said last year it increased the troop presence on the continent by about 20,000 troops as Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to seize the country, bringing the total U.S. force in Europe to more than 100,000.

“It’s unlocking additional forces for use in support of this operation,” the Pentagon’s top spokesman, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, told reporters on a phone call Thursday.

“This [executive order] reaffirms the unwavering support and commitment to defend NATO’s eastern flank in the wake of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine,” said Army Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II.

The U.S. Department of Defense wrote:

U.S. European Command is preparing to use this new authority in continuation of U.S. commitment to NATO’s collective security, stated Eucom spokesman Navy Capt. Bill Speaks in a news release today.

“These authorities will ensure long-term resilience in Eucom’s continued heightened level of presence and operations. This will not change current force-posture levels in Europe,” Speaks said.

These new authorities are an important demonstration of the U.S. commitment to allies and partners and provides Eucom with greater flexibility to provide key entitlements to the forces who support those commitments, Speaks said in the release.

Read the full White House statement HERE.