With a budget of beyond 814 billion dollars and a force of 3.4 million soldiersThe United States lead the list of world military powers. According to the data of the Department of DefenseThe USA maintain a network of 4,800 military sites scattered more than 160 countries.
However, the question of American presence in Europe It may not be immutable. The warning of the vice president JD Vance and of the Chief of the Pentagon Pete Hegseth Today he raised a crucial theme: How long will the role of American security guarantor still last in the old continent?
The possible US disengagement
According to the declarations of HegsethEurope must invest in your defense Now because the American presence will not last “forever”. “Now it’s time to invest because it cannot be taken for granted that the American presence will last forever,” said Hegseth in a press conference in Warsaw after a meeting with the Polish Defense Minister, as reported by Financial Times.
Washington recognizes the importance of US troops in Europe as deterrent and as part of the unity of the alliance, but the future depends on the American needs and the ability of Europe of “come forward”added Hegseth.
Parallel, Vance He said that Washington could start to resize the number of military deployed in Europe. At the headquarters of the BORNhas already started a reflection on where the first retreat could take place.
An ally diplomat revealed that the first move could be the reduction of 20,000 soldiers sent as reinforcement after theRussian invasion of UkraineThe February 24, 2022. This would mean a return to the pre-crisis level of about 80,000 units.
Analysts underline that a possible reduction in US military presence could bring theEurope to reinforce their own common defensea theme already at the center of the political debate of the EU.
The future of European security
The declaration of Hegseth And Vance represents a clear sign of change: if the withdrawal were to take place, the Old Continent It could be faced with a historical turning point, with a new balance of forces in the global geopolitical panorama.