Defense leaders from 10 northern European allies and the head of US European Command met this week at a conference in Latvia to facilitate bilateral defense communication and cooperation. “We discussed the security situation here in Europe. We had candid and very productive discussions regarding the concerns and challenges we continue to face here in Europe, and we discussed how we can both strengthen the alliance and our cooperation between our militaries,” Gen. Philip Breedlove, commander of US European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said in a written release. Breedlove updated US allies on the future Army presence and US commitment to Europe, saying the “persistent, heel-to-toe presence” of an armored brigade combat team “is designed to reassure our allies and partners, to deter our potential adversaries, and to help ensure that we are prepared to fight and win if we have to.” Leaders from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, and Sweden participated in the defense conference. (Read the transcript of Breedlove’s remarks.)
USAF to Cut F-35 Buy in Future Years Defense Plan
May 14, 2021
The Air Force wants to scale back buys of the F-35 over the next five years, hoping to get sustainment costs down and to wait for the more capable Block 4 version, according to talking points prepared for Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. The reduced buy will…