US sends B-52s to train in Europe, despite skepticism

(Baonghean.vn) - The US Air Force is deploying long-range B-52 bombers and 800 troops to the UK to support joint exercises with allies and partners of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) taking place in Europe this June.

The B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers will participate in a series of joint exercises, mainly near Russia, specifically the Baltic Sea, the Arctic and along Russia's borders with several NATO partners. The B-52 is one of the oldest combat aircraft in the US Air Force, first entering service in the 1950s during the height of the Cold War.

B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber. Photo: AFP

The deployment comes as the US military may be seeking to reassure its European allies amid doubts about President Donald Trump's vision for Washington's global role and his foreign policy aspirations.

In a statement, the US Air Force stated: "Training with allies and joint partners helps improve coordination between allies and allows the US Air Force to build the long-term relationships needed to address a range of global challenges."

Although President Trump declared his trip to Europe last month as “a great success for America,” some allied leaders questioned America’s future leadership on the “international stage,” after the NATO summit in Brussels, where the US leader did not approve the military alliance’s core security commitments./.

Lan Ha

(According to CNN)