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This so called “cost plus 50” proposal is whack. US military presence in Europe is first & foremost about US interests. Of course, the presence of US troops in Europe contributes to collective defense of allies but this is a consequence of, not the reason for, the troops.
Don’t look at Europe. Look around it. From the Arctic to the Levant, from the Maghreb to Caucasus, Europe is at one of the most important crossroads of the world. US bases in Europe provide American leaders with flexibility, resilience & options in a dangerous multipolar world.
The huge garrisons of American service personnel in Europe are no longer the fortresses of the Cold War, but the forward operating bases of the 21st century. The US needs to have the tools available to react to events in America’s interests. Our force posture in Europe does this.
I was based in Italy for 4 years as an army officer. We never trained to defend the Brenner Pass or to liberate Trieste. We trained to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq. A robust and capable presence of US forces in Europe is just as important today as it was during the Cold War.
Whether preparing for deployment, deterring Russia, or protecting a US embassy, the US can more quickly & effectively project power & react to the unexpected using its forward-based troops in Europe. Reducing this capability will only make US weaker on the world stage.
