WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — "The B-52s [are] not part of ERI [European Reassurance Initiative]," Breedlove stated on Tuesday. "They are part of a long-planned exercise… This is a routine mission scheduled for a long time."
The three US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, usually based at Barksdale Air Force Base in the state of Louisiana, have been redeployed to Moron Air Base, Spain, the US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) announced in a statement on February 26.
"It is a part of the exercise objectives… not a part of any response [to Russian actions]," Breedlove maintained.
The multi-role heavy bombers will integrate and train with US European Command components and regional allies and partners by participating in the Norwegian exercise Cold Response during this short-term deployment, STRATCOM said last week.
The bombers provided a unique and complementary capability to the intercontinental ballistic missile as well as ballistic missile submarine legs of the US nuclear triad, STRATCOM chief Admiral Cecil Haney said.
