US makes biggest arms shipment to Europe since Yugoslav war

The United States Air Force has shipped about 100 munition containers into its Europe and Africa headquarters in Ramstein, Germany, making it the biggest shipment since the 1999 NATO bombing campaign in Yugoslavia, according to an official Air Force statement.

Ramstein base 86th Munitions Operations chief Sgt. David Head said the record October shipment “will be used for future theater operations and the evolving US European Command presence,” adding that the move aims to "support NATO’s European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) and augment the Air Force’s War Reserve Materiel in Europe".

The statement elaborated that the EDI is a plan seeking to "increase responsiveness and readiness by pre-positioning ammunition, fuel and equipment to enhance the U.S. Department of Defense’s ability to provide a rapid response against threats made by aggressive actors."

The Ramstein base is located in south western Germany and has been operating since 1953 as an American and NATO air force headquarters. It has been known to have been previously housing some of the US’s Europe-based nuclear arsenal and is also reportedly a vital drone operation and air transportation center for the US Air Force across the globe.

No official response has yet been made by any European or Russian official concerning the large shipment. Russian analysts, however, see it as a clear indication of adding tension in the continent.

"This is an indicator, a sign that Americans seriously consider the possibility of war in Europe. Consequently, they have started building up military arsenals...There is only one opponent here - the Russian Federation," explained editor-in-chief of the "National Defense" magazine Igor Korotchenko speaking to the Russia TASS News Agency.

Editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine Viktor Murakhovsky believes the move is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a wide range of activities seeking to modernize NATO military infrastructure, specifically in Eastern Europe in response to what is described as "Russian action" in Ukraine.

"The plan envisages deploying 30 land battalions, 30 air fighter squadrons and 30 ships at NATO's 'eastern flank' within 30 days. Thus, they are creating not only infrastructure, but also stocking up ammunition, fuel and so on. This what they are doing now," he added.

Tensions have been recently heightening between the US, NATO and Russia as the North Atlantic Alliance has deployed tens of thousands of troops on Russia's western border in Norway as part of ongoing military drills.

Furthermore, US President Donald Trump announced last week that Washington plans to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia, a move that has been severely denounced by Moscow.

PressTV-Russia, US face off at UN over INF treaty

Russian warns that it will raise the issue of US withdrawal from a landmark nuclear arms control pact in the UNSC, if the US quits.

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