NATO leaders agree to bolster eastern forces after invasion

By LORNE COOK
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts have agreed to send thousands of troops backed by air and naval support to help protect allies in Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Speaking Friday after chairing a summit in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the leaders decided to send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliance’s eastern flank.  It’s the first time the response force has been used in the defense of NATO allies. Stoltenberg didn’t say how many troops would be deployed, but confirmed that the move would involve significant land, sea and air power.