BELLEVUE — The torch is passed. The mantle of responsibility for the U.S. nuclear arsenal sits on new shoulders.
Gen. Anthony Cotton (left) shares a moment with Adm. Charles Richard during a Friday ceremony in which Richard relinquished command of U.S. Strategic Command to Cotton.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin watches Friday during a change-of-command ceremony for U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base.
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the U.S. is enhancing its military presence in Europe for the long haul to bolster regional security after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Madrid at the opening of the alliance's annual leaders summit, President Biden said "NATO is strong and united" and that steps to be taken during the gathering will "further augment our collective strength."President Biden opened his participation in the summit by announcing that the U.S. is establishing a permanent headquarters in Poland, sending two additional F-35 fighter jet squadrons to the U.K. and will send more air defense and other capabilities to Germany and Italy."Today I'm announcing the United States will enhance our force posture in Europe and respond to the changing security environment as well as strengthening our collective security," he said.Stoltenberg, who earlier Wednesday said the alliance was facing its biggest challenge since World War II, welcomed President Biden's announcement.SEE MORE: G-7 Leaders End Summit Pledging To Hurt Russia Economically"This really demonstrates your decisive leadership and strength in the trans-Atlantic bond," Stoltenberg said, thanking President Biden for the "unwavering support from you and from the United States to Ukraine."President Biden said the U.S. will permanently station the U.S. Army V Corps forward command in Poland , a move that he said would strengthen U.S.-NATO interoperability across the alliance's eastern flank. The move marks the first permanent basing of U.S. forces on NATO's eastern edge. President Biden added that the U.S. is also stepping up its rotational deployments of troops to the Baltic region.President Biden announced after arriving for the summit on Tuesday that the U.S. would base two additional destroyers at its naval base in Rota, Spain, bringing the total number to six.The U.S. currently has more than 100,000 service members deployed across Europe, up by about 20,000 since just before Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine began four months ago.President Biden predicted that meetings this week would make for a "history-making summit" as leaders were set to approve a new strategic framework, announce a range of steps to boost their defense spending and capabilities, and clear the way for historically neutral Finland and Sweden to join NATO.SEE MORE: Ukraine Receives Same Defensive System That Protects The White HousePresident Biden said Putin thought NATO members would splinter after he invaded Ukraine, but got the opposite response instead."Putin was looking for the Finland-ization of Europe," President Biden said. "You're gonna get the NATO-ization of Europe. And that's exactly what he didn't want, but exactly what needs to be done to guarantee security for Europe."Turkey, the last remaining holdout to approve the Nordic countries' accession into NATO, reached an agreement on the eve of the summit late Tuesday to support adding them to the 30-nation alliance.While the White House said the U.S. was not a direct party to the negotiations, a senior administration official said President Biden spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan on Tuesday to encourage him to clear the way for Sweden and Finland to join. The two leaders are set to meet Wednesday afternoon to discuss other issues, the White House said.President Biden will also sit down Wednesday with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who are attending the NATO summit as the alliance looks to strengthen its ties in the Indo-Pacific region and address challenges from China.The White House said the three leaders would also discuss North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.Additional reporting by The Associated Press.
Photos: Offutt runway opens after 18-month reconstruction
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A TC-135 lands at Offutt Air Force Base Friday following an 18-month runway reconstruction project.
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A crowd watches one of the 55th Wing’s RC-135s land at Offutt Air Force Base on Friday following an 18-month runway reconstruction. In all, eight RC-135s landed to mark the runway’s reopening.
Offutt runway reopens after 18-month runway reconstruction.
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Col. Kristen Thompson speaks at a ceremony celebrating the completion of the runway reconstruction at Offutt. Thompson took over command of the Offutt-based 55th Wing in June 2021 when the project was in progress. Behind her is the air traffic tower.
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A RC-135 lands at Offutt Air Force Base Friday following an 18-month runway reconstruction project.
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Lt. Col. Ryan Davis brings his new son, Beckett, to see the new runway at Offutt Air Force Base on Friday.
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A TC-135 is the first plane to land at Offutt Air Force Base Friday following a complete rebuild of the base's runway. The project took 18 months.
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Attendees hold their phones up to get photos of the first plane to land at Offutt Air Force Base, a TC-135, Friday following an 18-month runway reconstruction project.
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Rep. Don Bacon (left) and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer were guests of honor at Friday’s ceremony. Bacon is a former 55th Wing commander.
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Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, speaks Friday about the new Offutt runway. The project cost more than $200 million.
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Col. Kristen Thompson, commander of the 55th Wing, speaks at a ceremony celebrating the completion of the runway reconstruction at Offutt. She landed the first jet that touched down Friday.
