FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 29, 2020
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the Associated Press reported that the U.S. will reduce its 34,500-strong troop contingent in Germany—returning 6,400 forces home and shifting another 5,600 to other European nations. Defense Priorities Senior Fellow Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, USA, Ret. issued the following statement in response:
“This drawdown is a welcome first step to a necessary and overdue reduction of U.S. forces on the continent. The U.S. force posture in Europe continues to reflect Cold War dynamics that no longer exist. As the U.S. grapples with crises at home and Asia grows in global importance, restructuring U.S. security arrangements in Europe can help conserve resources and encourage allies to take greater responsibility for their defense.
“Europe enjoys a high degree of safety and is largely wealthy and technologically advanced. Russia, whose power has declined substantially since its Soviet days, is mostly a threat to its smaller immediate neighbors. Germany, the continent’s leading economy, is set to rebound rapidly from the current pandemic, and has long had the means to contribute more to continental security. Instead, it has invested in domestic priorities while the U.S. picks up the tab for its defense.
“Troops withdrawn from Germany should be returned to the U.S. rather than reshuffled among other allies. The era of great power competition demands that U.S. allies be capable partners, not security dependents. As long as the U.S. maintains a large military presence in Europe and continues to guard the continent’s periphery, NATO states have no incentive to grow their capabilities and meaningfully contribute to the alliance.”
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