Europe, Forward Presence, and the Future
Abstract
Change, life's only true constant, still buffets the European security environment like wind. The fall of the Wall, the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, and the collapse of the Soviet Union have eliminated any immediate threat of large-scale attack against Western Europe. These changes have allowed U.S. European Command (EUCOM) to judiciously reduce forward-based forces. But the challenges and responsibilities of a new European environment still loom large. Revolutions in recent years have been largely bloodless yet revolutions nonetheless. More new nations, borders, and expectations have been created by these events than by any others since World War II. Since the dust has not settled on the momentous events of the last few years, continued U.S. engagement remains imperative. Cooperative security arrangements that guided the allies through the Cold War have unique capabilities that could not be replicated if NATO ceased to exist. Therefore, the status of the Atlantic Alliance as the protector of Europe -- a region with immense cultural, political, and economic claims on the nation's national interests -- seems assured for at least another half century. With the flexibility to adjust in changing times, and American resolve to support the Alliance through continued forward presence, NATO will remain the vehicle for meeting security challenges in EUCOM's area of responsibility. (7 photographs)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA426896
Entities
People
- James P. Stanton
Organizations
- National Defense University