As security threats in Europe increase, the United States
remains concerned about Russia's destabilizing actions in Ukraine and Syria,
the commander of U.S. forces in Europe said here today.
"European security challenges continue to grow and
become, frankly, more complex," Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, commander
of U.S. European Command and NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe, said at
a Pentagon news conference.
"In fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that
we are changing on almost a daily basis," the general said, adding that new
threats and challenges seemingly emerge every day. "Given
the complexity of challenges we face globally, it remains critical that we
continue to work together with our allies and partners," he said.
Russia a 'Top Concern'
Russia's continued "aggressive actions and malign
influence remain a top concern and a very high priority," Breedlove said. He
noted although the ceasefire is still holding in eastern Ukraine, he is concerned
with Russia's "lack of effort to end its occupations and honor its
commitments in Ukraine."
In addition, Russia's intervention in Syria "continues
to beg more questions than answers," Breedlove told reporters.
"Russia's actions prolong the conditions creating
massive-scale immigration of refugees that is further worrying our southern
allies, and the eastern allies continue to be concerned about Russian
expansion," he said.
"These concerns, combined with the flow of foreign
fighters, are a strategic challenge for all of Europe," Breedlove said.
"I continue to believe that we must strengthen our
deterrence and that Eucom and our NATO alliance must continue to adapt by
improving our readiness and responsiveness," he said.
Partnerships to Strengthen Europe
Breedlove said an example of improving readiness, interoperability
and responsiveness in Europe is NATO's Trident Juncture exercise. It is NATO's
largest exercise in more than a decade, and is currently taking place in Italy,
Spain and Portugal. It involves more than 36,000 troops and 30 nations.
The exercise, Breedlove said, represents a "clear
demonstration of NATO's resolve and capability," and is "enhancing
our ability to work with our allies, partners and other international
organizations in response to crisis situations."
Breedlove noted the United States is expanding its training
program in Ukraine. While it started with Ukrainian national guard forces, it
now includes training active military component troops. The expansion will strengthen
Ukraine's capability and capacity to address the challenges that nation faces, the
general said.
The U.S. focus for Ukraine, Breedlove told reporters, remains
on a diplomatic solution that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial
integrity. "We continue to call on Russia to fully cease its destabilizing
actions in eastern Ukraine, to end its occupation of Crimea and to fully honor
its Minsk commitments," he said.
Vital Partner in ISIL Fight
The situation around Turkey continues to become more
complex, Breedlove explained.
"Now a critical partner in degrading and defeating
ISIL, we greatly appreciate the vital support Turkey provides to the
international coalition across many lines of effort," he said. The use of
Turkish bases for U.S. aircraft continues to be an important force multiplier,
he added.
However, Russian actions are complicating the situation in
Syria, the general said. Russia is being "pretty forward" about the
fact that they are bombing the moderate Syrian opposition and other groups in
the northern area, he noted.
"That raises questions about what is our future path in
Syria,” Breedlove said. “I think all understand that we need a political
transition in Syria. The moderate opposition is a part of forcing that political
decision. The actions we see the Russians taking now, we believe, prolong this
conflict, which prolongs the problem of the flow out of people into Europe and
other places."
The concern, Breedlove explained, is that the eyes of the
world are shifting away from Russian actions in Ukraine to Russian involvement
in Syria.
"That is a technique that I think has been employed
here a couple of times," he said. "Invade Crimea, take the world's
eyes off of Crimea by invading Donbas. Take the world's eyes off of Dombas by
getting involved in Syria."
Russian actions are part of a larger construct, he said. "We
need to be thinking holistically about our response to Russia," he added.
(Follow Lisa
Ferdinando on Twitter: @FerdinandoDoD)