Looks like it's again time for my regular threat "what US military installations are located in Germany?", and "Why is the US in Germany?".
#Truppenabzug
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#Truppenabzug
[Thread]
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US President Trump has said again that he wants to reduce the number of US troops stationed in Germany. He frames it as a punishment of Germany which does not spend 2% of its GDP on its own defence.
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The thing is, though, that the US troops in Germany aren't primarily there to guarantee German security, or to deter Russia. They are there because Germany has become a staging ground for US operations worldwide, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
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The US has some 34 000 military personnel in Germany. That number has been reduced significantly over the last 20 years - in 2006 it was some 70 000.
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Trump now wants to reduce this number to 25 000 (though it is not clear whether he knows whether he is talking about upper limits (52 000) or about troops permanently stationed in Germany (~34 000))
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What US military installations are in Germany? Are these just US troops sitting at the eastern border? Well no.
Two of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States military are based in Germany: EUCOM – European Command and AFRICOM, the US Africa Command.
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Two of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States military are based in Germany: EUCOM – European Command and AFRICOM, the US Africa Command.
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EUCOM's area of focus covers 51 countries and territories, including Russia and Israel.
AFRICOM is responsible for U.S. military operations, including fighting regional conflict and maintaining military relations with 53 African nations.
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AFRICOM is responsible for U.S. military operations, including fighting regional conflict and maintaining military relations with 53 African nations.
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Also in Germany is Ramstein Air Base. Without Ramstein, the US could not carry out its #drone strikes in the Middle East and Africa.
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Landstuhl hospital is the largest military hospital of the US outside the continental US. Almost all US casualties from Afghanistan and Iraq passed through here. In addition, it serves military stationed throughout Europe and Africa, as well as their family members.
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Grafenwoehr Training Area is a US Army training base in Bavaria. It is the largest NATO training facility in Europe and the largest overseas training command of the US Army.
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et cetera, et cetera.
The point is: yes, the fact that the US has such a large number of troops stationed in Germany helps with deterrence and to reassure Europeans.
BUT: this is a clear win-win for the US, as these troops aren't primarily there for that.
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The point is: yes, the fact that the US has such a large number of troops stationed in Germany helps with deterrence and to reassure Europeans.
BUT: this is a clear win-win for the US, as these troops aren't primarily there for that.
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They are there because it is IN THE US INTEREST to have Germany - a well functioning country, with great infrastructure, schools etc. - as its staging ground for military operations.
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Also, Germany does in fact pay for some elements of this stationing. Exact numbers are difficult to come by, but judging from answers to parliamentary questions, it's some $50 mio/year German tax payer money that goes into buildings etc of US military installations in Germany.
We discussed the role of the US in the international (security) system in the latest episode of @Sicherheitspod (for German-speakers).
m.soundcloud.com/sicherheitshal…
m.soundcloud.com/sicherheitshal…
