[Comprehensive] 'Ukraine Tensions Escalate' US Prepares Deployment of 8,500 Troops... Huawei-Style Sanctions Also Considered

U.S. President Joe Biden is attending a video conference with European leaders to discuss the Ukraine situation on the afternoon of the 24th (local time) in the White House Situation Room. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The Biden administration in the United States has begun preparations to deploy 8,500 U.S. troops, warships, and military aircraft to Eastern Europe in anticipation of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. This measure is to support the NATO rapid response force in case of an emergency. Alongside this, President Biden also organized the anti-Russian front through a video call with European leaders to respond to the Ukraine situation. As part of export sanctions, the so-called ‘Huawei-style sanctions’ card is also being considered.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others on the 24th (local time), U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently issued a deployment readiness order for 8,500 U.S. troops amid rising tensions between the West and Russia surrounding Ukraine.

Department of Defense spokesperson John Kirby explained at a briefing that "the troops are preparing to be deployed to Europe on short notice if necessary," and "most of these U.S. forces will participate in the NATO rapid response force if NATO requires it." The troops under the readiness order include combat brigades, logistics units, medical and air defense support, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance units.

This action was taken based on the judgment that the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased further. It is a kind of signal that the Biden administration, which had been passive about military intervention such as deploying U.S. troops under the strategy of ‘not provoking Russia,’ may now change its stance. Currently, 100,000 Russian troops are deployed along the Ukrainian border, creating a highly volatile situation where military conflict could occur at any moment. The New York Times (NYT) reported that "the deployment of thousands of U.S. troops to the eastern regions of NATO member countries such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania is a scenario that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to avoid."

NATO is also considering deploying additional combat units to Eastern Europe in response to Russia. European NATO member countries such as Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands have also decided to send additional troops and resources.

Export sanctions against Russia are also expected to continue. The Washington Post (WP) reported on the same day, citing multiple officials, that the Biden administration is preparing to regulate the export of products related to artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing to strike at strategic industries that President Putin has been focusing on in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Specifically, the application of the ‘Foreign Direct Product Rule,’ which was previously applied to China’s Huawei, is being discussed. This is a high-intensity sanction that not only prohibits direct transactions with U.S. companies but also requires prior export approval if a third-country company uses U.S. technology in the relevant products. The plan is to tighten the supply chain of Russia just as Huawei’s semiconductor supply chain was cut off. Experts analyze that if such export controls are added following the financial sanctions mentioned by President Biden at his first anniversary press conference, the impact on the Russian economy will be enormous.

However, President Biden reaffirmed joint responses with European allies on the same day, leaving room for diplomatic resolution with Russia.

According to the White House, President Biden held a video call for about 80 minutes from 3 p.m. with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Union (EU) Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and others to discuss measures to respond to the Ukraine situation. The White House stated, "We confirmed that we are prepared to impose tremendous repercussions and severe economic costs on Russia in the event of a Ukrainian invasion," and "the leaders also emphasized a shared hope for a diplomatic solution."