The Obama administration has proposed quadrupling its budget for European operations next year to address “Russian aggression.” Obama reportedly plans to significantly ramp up deployment of heavy weapons to NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe, even as Russian military activity in eastern Ukraine has calmed. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter also sought a 50 percent increase in spending on the U.S.-led fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter: “While the basic elements of our resulting defense strategy remain valid, it’s also been abundantly clear to me over the last year that the world has not stood still since then—the emergence of ISIL and the resurgence of Russia being just a couple of the examples. This is reflective of a broader strategic transition underway, not unlike those we’ve seen in history following the end of other major wars.”