Today, the American military presence is estimated at 80 thousand military personnel. European politicians believe that US President Donald Trump will order to transfer some of them to Asia and the Middle East, the article says.
The question is not whether there will be a reduction in the American presence, but how, as an orderly this can be done without jealing existing alliance defense plans, ”a source in European diplomacy told Euraactiv. Army officials in Europe are discussing three main issues: which part of the US troops will remain, how quickly the reduction will pass and whether it is possible to compensate for it independently.
The article notes that the NATO contingent in European territory greatly depends on American equipment, reconnaissance and aviation forces, in particular, refueling aircraft, and also rely on well-trained American military.
Europeans suggest that the main contractions of the American composition will be held at NATO bases in Germany and Italy, where 35.9 thousand and 12.4 thousand military personnel are stationed, respectively.
Especially concerned about the possible weakening of support on the eastern flank of the alliance – in Poland, Romania and the Baltic countries, although there are minimal resources of the US Army. The authorities of some countries are non -publicly asking for NATO to start a revision of defense plans in order to prepare for the care of the American contingent, the authors of the material write.
Context
On May 16, the US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitacher stated that Washington could start negotiations with European allies about the reduction of the American military contingent in Europe later this year, Reuters wrote. Answering the question of whether the administration of US President Trump is considering the possibility of withdrawing troops from Europe, Whitor said that “nothing was decided.” “But as soon as we make a decision, we will begin these negotiations within the framework of NATO … Somewhere at the end of the year, we will begin these negotiations … All our allies are ready for this,” he added.
On June 26, the commander of the US Ground Forces in Europe and Africa, General Christopher Donahi, told Stars and Stripes that the number of American troops in Europe would remain unchanged, despite the fact that the Pentagon seeks to send more forces and funds to the Asia-Pacific region. According to him, at meetings with “all the highest leaders” to him, no one said nothing about the reduction.
