How can 85,000 American soldiers be as crucial in Europe – a continent that has a total of 1.9 million soldiers?
According to experts if SVT talked to, it is partly about deterrent to Russia, which risks meeting American soldiers in the event of an attack.
But it is also about many of the bandages in Europe’s defense forces having low preparedness.
– War has been a distant perspective and they have been engaged in efforts in countries far away. The European defenses have been difficult to get out of this and the result is, with the exception of Finland and Poland, to gain war and low readiness, says a source with transparency in European capability.
Björn Fägersten, senior researcher at UI, describes Europe as a little divided when it comes to defense.
– Europe is suffering from a kind of fragmentation where we have several different systems and it differs greatly between the countries what experience you have had and what efforts you participated in.
He says Europeans will have to develop cooperation both within the EU and NATO – but also create new coalitions of those who want to, for example, to monitor a possible peace agreement in Ukraine.
– It is difficult to compensate for diminishing American interest just by raising the respective national level of ambition. In order to get sufficient common strength, we must do it as a collaboration.
Not forever
At present, the US troops are placed on military bases in some 20 different countries, most in Germany. There is no message that they are leaving Europe. But the overall picture of the recent weeks’ statements from the Trump administration and handling of Ukraine President Zelenskyj has caused concern in the European capitals.
“The US presence will not last forever,” said US Defense Minister Peter Hegseth during the Munich Security Conference.
Vice President Vance also raised the American presence in his talked about speech where he criticized Europe’s view of freedom of speech.
– There are thousands of American troops in Germany today, do you think the American taxpayers intend to pay it if you are thrown in prison for a nasty tweet?