Strategic Implications of U.S. Troop Drawdown in Europe
Abstract
On 9 June 2011, the then-Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, stated future U.S. political leaders may not consider the return on America s investment in NATO worth the cost. 1 Supporting this statement are the underlying concerns about Asian stability, and a poorly performing U.S. and global economy. In particular, the Department of Defense (DoD) is anticipating a budget reduction of $450-billion to $1.2-trillion over the next 10 years. Finally, the potential savings gained from the reduction of U.S. troops in Europe, and by reducing fiscal support to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is between 65 percent and 70 percent of total investments, are compelling rationales for decreased involvement in Europe and NATO. However, abrupt decisions based on these legitimate drawbacks are shortsighted, and the advantages gained from second and third order effects of a European presence, in today s globalized and transnational world, cannot be understated. This paper acknowledges the need for a force drawdown, but argues that in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) global environment, the U.S. must maintain its strong military presence in Europe through increased support to NATO.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA561373
Entities
People
- Thomas Lennon Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army War College