NATO commander calls for more US troops in Europe to deter Russia

The top U.S. general in Europe said Tuesday he needs more troops and high-tech surveillance platforms to counter an increasingly belligerent Russia, which is using Ukraine as a proving ground for its latest weaponry.

Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, who is both the U.S. European Commander and NATO's Supreme Commander, told a House committee Tuesday that he needs troops that are based in Europe, and don't simply rotate in and out.

Scaparrotti says while the U.S. military is the best in the world and is capable of deterring Russia now, he needs to build a more capable force to counter Russia's growing military might.

"Today, we have about a little over 60,000 of all services stationed in Europe. It provides a force that allows us to deter today," Scaparrotti said. "We need a greater force there, I think potentially in the land component ... a footprint of an armored division, for instance."

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