[BostonCard]

The troops are, of course, very symbolic.  A determined Russian attack *should* be able to wipe them out in short order (though after Ukraine, maybe not).  But troops there highlights Article V.  For the same reason that the US/NATO refuse to put troops or planes into Ukraine, as it runs the risk of direct confrontation, the more troops are in Eastern Europe, the greater the chance that a Russian invasion kills Western European/American troops leaving those countries no choice but to come to an article V invocation.  That, in turn, reduces the chances of an invasion in the first place.  The flip side is that it increases the chance that Eastern European countries act recklessly or underinvest in their own security, which is what happened with Germany partly due to the number of American troops there.

BC

[BostonCard]

The troops are, of course, very symbolic.  A determined Russian attack *should* be able to wipe them out in short order (though after Ukraine, maybe not).  But troops there highlights Article V.  For the same reason that the US/NATO refuse to put troops or planes into Ukraine, as it runs the risk of direct confrontation, the more troops are in Eastern Europe, the greater the chance that a Russian invasion kills Western European/American troops leaving those countries no choice but to come to an article V invocation.  That, in turn, reduces the chances of an invasion in the first place.  The flip side is that it increases the chance that Eastern European countries act recklessly or underinvest in their own security, which is what happened with Germany partly due to the number of American troops there.

BC