Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Russia, Belarus to boost air defenses on western borders

Russia and Belarus are perhaps making this move because the United States is going reassign soldiers to Eastern Europe. Again this also probably has something to do with Incirlik.

See also:
Incirlik becomes logistical, potential “operations” to the East.
#msg-6003766

-Am

BARANOVICHI. April 13 (Interfax-West) - Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said more air defense troops will be deployed on the western borders of the Russia-Belarus Union.

Several Russian S-300 systems will be delivered to Belarus, Lukashenko said during a visit to the Obuz-Lesnovsky testing ground on Wednesday.

"As far as the re-deployment of several S-300 systems to Belarus is concerned, this matter has been decided," the president said.

"This measure will allow us to enhance our air defenses in the West. The air defense troops deployed on the western borders protect both Belarus and Russia," he said.

Commenting on bilateral military-technical cooperation, Lukashenko said that "the Russian Federation has already started providing Belarus with all the kinds of weapons in which we are interested at domestic [Russian] prices. We and the Russian army purchase them at the same prices," he said.

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11269521




US army to reduce ground forces in Europe to 24,000

HEIDELBERG, Germany (AFP) Apr 12, 2005
The United States is going to reduce the number of American ground soldiers stationed in Europe to 24,000 from the current 64,000 troops within the next five to 10 years, a US army spokeswoman said here Tuesday.
The proposed troop reduction would result in only four of the 13 main operating bases remaining. The four bases would be; Wiesbaden in central Germany, which would become the European headquarters for US ground forces, and Kaiserslautern in western Germany, Grafenwoehr in southern Germany and Vicenza in northern Italy, according to the spokeswoman, Elke Herberger.

The number of US army barracks and installations would drop from 236 to 88 with the reorganization, according to the American army in Europe website.

The US army is involved in a major redeployment in Europe so it can reassign soldiers back to the US or else to Eastern Europe.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=211833&messageid=1113343079&lp=1113352785