• About
  • News Feed
  • Quotes and articles
  • What Think Tanks Are Saying
  • Why U.S. Forces remain in Europe

Bruce K. Anderson

~ Security, National Defense and U.S. Interests at Home and Abroad

Bruce K. Anderson

Tag Archives: United States

The Case for U.S. Troops in Europe Today

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

NATO, U.S. forces in Europe, United States, United States Armed Forces

Taken from The Future of U.S. Bases in Europe: A View from America

By Luke Coffey, Heritage Foundation, July 15, 2013

… “In my opinion, however, basing American troops in Europe directly serves U.S. national security interests.

Of course, the presence of U.S. forces in Europe contributes to the collective defense of U.S. allies on the continent, but this is a consequence of, not the reason for, maintaining a robust presence. The challenge for U.S. decision makers is to keep a military force that can promote U.S. interests in the region without creating a culture of dependence on the U.S. security umbrella among some of America’s European allies.

The commonly held belief that U.S. forces are in Europe to protect European allies from a threat that no longer exists is wrong. In fact, forward basing U.S. troops in Europe is just as important now as it was during the Cold War, albeit for different reasons… (more)

Related articles
  • Withdrawing US Forces From Europe Weakens America – Analysis (albanytribune.com)
  • U.S. Presence in Europe Critical in the Years Ahead (heritage.org)
  • Poland Welcomes U.S. Troops (freebeacon.com)
  • US Army Creates NATO Rapid-Deployment Forces (stratrisks.com)
  • DOD Announces U.S. Force Posture Revision in Europe (waronterrornews.typepad.com)
Advertisement

Exercise Rapid Trident 2013 – Multinational exercise in the Ukraine

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News, Military and Defense

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Interoperability, NATO, NATO-Ukraine, Partnership for Peace, Rapid Trident, Ukraine, United States, United States European Command

English: Location map of Ukraine within Europe

Location map of Ukraine within Europe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rapid Trident supports interoperability among Ukraine, the United States, NATO and Partnership for Peace member nations. The exercise helps prepare participants to operate successfully in a joint, multinational, integrated environment with host-nation support from civil and governmental agencies.

Rapid Trident is a part of U.S. European Command’s Joint Training and Exercise Program, designed to enhance joint combined interoperability with allied and partner nations.

The exercise also supports Ukraine’s Annual National Program to achieve interoperability with NATO and commitments made in the annual NATO-Ukraine work plan.

Related articles
  • Ukraine hospitals treating 19 soldiers during international war game (upi.com)
  • NATO Advise Ukraine on Military Education Reform (sys-con.com)
  • Slovakia: NATO Conducts Largest-Ever Logistics Exercise (rickrozoff.wordpress.com)
  • NATO starts large-scale security drills in Baltic region (panarmenian.net)

Exercise Saber Strike 2013 – Multinational exercise hosted in the Baltics

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Baltics, Military and Defense

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Multinational Corps Northeast, NATO, Saber Strike, U.S. Army Europe, United States, United States Army

Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Saber Strike is a long-standing, multilateral, multifaceted, U.S Army Europe-led security cooperation exercise primarily focused on the three Baltic States. The exercise spans multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and involves approximately 2,000 personnel from 14 countries.

In addition to major contingents from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Saber Strike 2013 includes participation from Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE), U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), the U.S. Army and Air National Guard, U.S. Army Cadet Command and observers from Norway and Sweden.

The exercise trains participants on command and control as well as interoperability with regional partners and is comprised of a brigade-level command post exercise and computer assisted exercise, as well as company-level field and situational training exercises. It also features the integration of U.S. close air support with partner nation ground forces and the demonstration of U.S. Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) capability.

This theater security cooperation exercise provides commanders and their staffs practical experience in organizing, controlling and supporting coalition operations and allows the United States, NATO and participating nations to demonstrate their own unique roles in contributing to regional and global stability by strengthening international military partnerships, enhancing multinational interoperability and preparing participants for worldwide contingency operations.

Related articles
  • Saber Strike 2013 successfully concluded (video) (estonianworld.com)
  • Baltic States Prepare for International Saber Strike Exercise (nosint.blogspot.com)
  • Saber Strike 2013 to take place in early June (estonianworld.com)
  • NATO starts large-scale security drills in Baltic region (panarmenian.net)

The Defense Dividend

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News, Foreign Policy, Military and Defense, Turkey

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Middle East, NATO, Sahel, Security and Stability, Turkey, United States

A U.S. Patriot Missile launches from a truck m...

A U.S. Patriot Missile launches from a truck mounted canister (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Project Syndicate, Feb. 19, 2013

BRUSSELS – On a hillside overlooking the Turkish city of Gaziantep, Patriot missile launchers are keeping watch under NATO command and control. This is just one of six Patriot batteries from three Allied countries – Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States – providing protection for millions of people along Turkey’s southeastern border with Syria. The deployment shows NATO’s enduring commitment to its core task: safeguarding its members’ security. It also shows that, when a crisis erupts, there is no substitute for effective deterrence and defense.

Virtually every day brings fresh evidence that an arc of crisis – from terrorism and weapons proliferation to cyber-attacks and piracy – is spreading from the Middle East and the Sahel to Central Asia. These risks will not disappear while NATO members focus on fixing their finances. The fact is that our way of life is predicated on security and stability, without which investment withers, employment collapses, and economies shrink… (more)

Related articles
  • NATO Chief Urges Europe Not to Cut Defense Budgets (abcnews.go.com)
  • NATO deploying Patriot missiles to Turkey-Syria border (en.trend.az)
  • Rasmussen: NATO Must Be Ready For Any Future Threat (albanytribune.com)

Europe’s army?

01 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News, Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

France, French Armed Forces, French Army, Mali, United States

AMX 56 Leclerc Tank of Armée de terre

AMX 56 Leclerc Tank of Armée de terre (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Despite defense cuts, few European countries come close to France for military power.

By Paul Ames, Global Post, Jan. 27, 2013

BRUSSELS, Belgium — French military prowess isn’t always fully appreciated in the United States.

But there are few troops anywhere in the world better prepared for their task than the marines, foreign legionaries, and other elite French units rolling north to confront the Jihadist militants controlling much of Mali… (more)

Related articles
  • Is France’s Military The Best In Europe? (warnewsupdates.blogspot.com)
  • Britain sends troops to Mali: five things you need to know (theweek.co.uk)
  • French troops seize key Mali airport (cnn.com)
  • French, Malian forces capture Gao rebel stronghold – Reuters Canada (ca.reuters.com)
  • British troops to join Mali mission (guardian.co.uk)
  • Mali rebels melt away in face of French advance (guardian.co.uk)
  • French troops deployed in last Mali rebel strongholds – Reuters (reuters.com)
  • Mali Troops Take Timbuktu as Donors Pledge African Force Funds – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
  • A Timbuktu Test For Europe – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)

The Future of American Landpower: Does Forward Presence Still Matter? The Case of the Army in Europe

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

European Union, Forward Presence, Land Forces, Landpower, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army Europe, United States, United States Armed Forces

Saber Junction 2012 [Image 3 of 9]

Saber Junction 2012 [Image 3 of 9] (Photo credit: DVIDSHUB)

By Dr. John R. Deni, Strategic Studies Institute

“In fact, the primary purpose of U.S. forces in Eu­rope today is to build interoperability and military capability within and among America’s most capable and most likely future coalition partners through se­curity cooperation activities like exercises and train­ing events. This shift in purpose means that U.S. force presence in Europe is no longer—if indeed it ever was—a useful tool in extracting a greater commitment to increased defense spending on the part of America’s European allies.” http://t.co/o8qClsXf

Related articles
  • Army Creates ‘ Office of Strategic Landpower ‘ (12160.info)
  • Europe Remains Important to New Strategy, General Says (defense.gov)
  • Saber Junction Reflects Post-Afghanistan Training Model (defense.gov)
  • A look at the Army’s plans to adapt to the 21st century (fabiusmaximus.com)
  • Survey: Americans Do Not Believe Defense Spending Is Too High (heritage.org)
  • UK warns Europe on defence as US looks away (guardian.co.uk)
  • Why Are U.S. Troops Still Stationed In Europe? (warnewsupdates.blogspot.com)
  • DOD Announces U.S. Force Posture Revision in Europe (waronterrornews.typepad.com)

The Diplomat: A Plea for Smart, Forward U.S. Military Engagement

15 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Janine Davidson, Michèle Flournoy, Military, United States, United States Armed Forces, United States Army

Military expenditure as percent of GDP, data t...

Military expenditure as percent of GDP, data taken from the CIA factbook. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Michèle Flournoy and Janine Davidson, The Diplomat, July 10, 2012

The recent global economic downturn has generated doubts about American resilience and our ability to lead in the world. Far from being a nation in decline, however, the United States’ global standing remains unmatched and the imperative for it to lead in today’s tumultuous environment is clear. Those who assume that in order to recover economically the United States must close its overseas bases and bring its military forces home misunderstand the role the U.S. military plays in promoting global prosperity. The United States has benefited enormously from a highly interdependent and globalized economy – one that has relied on the security and stability underwritten by our armed forces and our alliances for over 70 years. In this context, we simply cannot divorce “American” interests from “global” interests or otherwise opt out of the system economically or militarily. (more) http://ow.ly/cfuCz

Brookings: Are Europeans a Better Transatlantic Security Partner than Meets the Eye?

14 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Foreign Policy, Military and Defense

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

European Union, Europeans, Government, International security, Transatlantic Security, United States

Brookings: Are Europeans a Better Transatlantic Security Partner than Meets the Eye?

Clara M. O’Donnell and Patryk Pawlak, July 6, 2012

The latest wave of European military spending cuts is swelling the ranks of Americans who believe that Europeans are not contributing enough to global security. But this assessment is too harsh. It is true that Europeans spend less on defence than their American counterparts. They have also been less willing to use force in recent years. But the US itself is reassessing the merit of its military interventions over the last decade. And when one takes into account policies that are not strictly military, such as aid, sanctions and homeland security, Europeans are making some significant contributions to international stability. (more) http://t.co/VfFVJpv0

 

Related articles
  • Germany’s vision of a European superstate threatens national sovereignty and the transatlantic alliance (blogs.telegraph.co.uk)

  • Bruce K. Anderson

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Judy Dempsey – Russia is Losing Germany
  • Daily Beast- Putin’s Sleight-of-Hand Invasion
  • Is Putin this century’s Hitler?
  • NATO standards in former Warsaw Pact countries
  • 300 Lithuanian troops to take part in NATO exercises in Poland and Baltics

Twitter Posts

  • @GalvestonFerry Are all 4 boats on the Bolivar side right now? None to be seen on the Galveston side 4 months ago
  • RT @TheWTFNation: You spelled ❌ wrong. https://t.co/fM1mKIFXIT 1 year ago
  • RT @ArmyCIO: During the Joint experiments at #ProjectConvergence21, data fabric capabilities played a key role by bringing together multipl… 1 year ago
  • RT @ArmyCIO: #ArmyCIO Dr. Raj Iyer and Army CDO Dr. David Markowitz are speaking at the @AFCEANOVA Virtual Army IT Day on Thursday. We’re l… 1 year ago
  • RT @ArmyCIO: #ArmyCIOYearInReview In March, the Enterprise Cloud Management Agency was distinguished as a field operating agency of the #A… 1 year ago
Follow @BruceKAnderson

My Facebook Page

My Facebook Page

Archives

  • August 2014
  • March 2014
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • November 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012

Categories

Tag Cloud

Afghanistan Anders Fogh Rasmussen Arctic Armenia Athens Austerity Azerbaijan Baltic Baltic region Baltic States Belarus BRIC Caucasus China Collective security Collective Security Treaty Organisation Czech Republic Erdogan Espionage Estonia Europe Europeans European Union Finland Foreign Policy Georgia Germany Government Greece International security Iran Iskander Israel Kaliningrad Kazakhstan Kofi Annan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Mark Hertling Mavi Marmara Middle East Military exercise Missile Defense MV Mavi Marmara NATO NATO Response Force North Atlantic Treaty Organization Pentagon Poland Russia Russian Armed Forces sayings Secretary General of NATO Smolensk South Ossetia Soviet Union Steadfast Jazz Sweden Syria Tajikistan Tbilisi Transatlantic Security Turkey U.S. Army Europe U.S. Forces Ukraine United States United States Armed Forces United States Army United States European Command USAREUR Vladimir Putin weather Zapad 2013

Blogroll

  • Baltic Review
  • Brookings Foreign Policy
  • Carnegie Europe
  • Discuss
  • Eastern European Forum
  • EurasiaNet
  • European Geostrategy
  • Foreign Policy Review
  • Get Polling
  • Get Support
  • Institute for the Study of War
  • Jamestown Foundation
  • Learn WordPress.com
  • South Caucasus Diary
  • Tamada Tales
  • The Bug Pit
  • The Daily Cheese
  • The European Strategist
  • The Turko-file
  • Theme Showcase
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Bruce K. Anderson
    • Join 30 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Bruce K. Anderson
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar