The United States plans on filling Eastern Europe with thousands of troops, along with vehicles and weapons, to equip an armored combat brigade. That will require a special budget request of $3.4 billion for next year.
An unnamed administration official told The New York Times that the step "fulfills promises we've made to NATO" and "also shows our commitment and resolve." Moreover, said another anonymous aide: "This reflects a new situation, where Russia has become a more difficult actor." However, the basic question remains unanswered: Why is the U.S. defending Europe? The need for America to play an overwhelming role disappeared as the continent recovered and the Cold War ended.
Today NATO involves collective defense, but "their," not "our," defense. Although the Europeans sometimes join America in "out of area" activities, for which no alliance is necessary, they have never come to, and are unlikely to ever come to, America's actual defense. Applying Article 5 after 9/11 was a nice act of solidarity, but European support was never necessary to strike al-Qaida and oust the Taliban.