The US will increase its military presence across Europe as Nato agreed a “fundamental shift” in its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A permanent Army Headquarters will be created in Poland, while new US warships will go to Spain, fighter jets to the UK and ground troops to Romania.

Mr Biden said Nato was “needed now more than it has ever been”.

According to Nato head, Jens Stoltenberg the alliance is having its biggest overhaul since the Cold War.

The new plan in response to Russia’s invasion will mean more than 300,000 troops at high readiness next year, up from the current level of 40,000.

Mr Biden told a summit in Madrid that Nato would be “strengthened in all directions across every domain land, air and sea”.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also said it is significantly increasing the availability of forces to Nato’s collective defence, with more warships, fighter jets and land forces on standby, although the MoD said it would not give details on numbers as they are “militarily sensitive”.

The US announcement sees it shore up its presence across the continent but particularly in eastern Europe where the new permanent headquarters for its 5th Army Corps will be based.

Mr Biden repeated the alliance’s commitment to “defend every inch” of its territory, saying: “We mean it when we say an attack against one is an attack against all.”

Bbc/Adebukola Aluko

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