70 Years of US Bases in UK & Europe: Time to Stay or Time To Go.
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A 2009 Report by the EU Institute of Strategic Studies Report showed that the number of Main Battle Tanks held by the members of the EU was 9,800, with a mere 7,951 Armoured Fighting Vehicles and a paltry 22,844 Armoured Personnel Carriers and over 2 million Regular Service Personnel and even greater numbers of reserve forces. America accounts for nearly half of world defence expenditure, the EU a further quarter of all defence expenditure and the majority of the rest is spent by China, Russia, India, Japan and countries such as Australia and Canada. So just who are we defending ourselves and are the Americans with 30,00 troops and 29 tanks really pivotal to EU defence.
Well just look at operations in defending faulklands or even Bosnia. If the EU where ready it was a shame to have waited for us in Bosnia. But then same happened in Libya where EU operations had to be supported or not be able to use air power. A report just done showed defense spending increases lead by India with China not far behind. The EU has been reducing defense spending and standing for decades now. Having military equipment and personnel and it being combat ready is two different things.
Well just look at operations in defending faulklands or even Bosnia. If the EU where ready it was a shame to have waited for us in Bosnia. But then same happened in Libya where EU operations had to be supported or not be able to use air power. A report just done showed defense spending increases lead by India with China not far behind. The EU has been reducing defense spending and standing for decades now. Having military equipment and personnel and it being combat ready is two different things.
The EU didn't have a military command, so would have found it difficult to launch an operation in Bosnia outside of the NATO Command Structure. As for the Falklands that was a British Operation, and was successful despite the problems of fighting 10,000 miles from home, in adverse conditions and taking on an enemy that outnumbered us.
As for NATO it does need reform, there does need to be an EU Command Structure and further cooperation such as the Anglo-French Defence Agreement of 2010. The US has never wanted a strong Europe in terms of Defence and has traditionally been against increasing US capabilities through a separate EU Command. The EU needs to work on smart defence and interoperability in order to improve our capabilities and the opolling of resources through smart defence concept along with the Anglo French Cooperation and the very real possibility of a European Military Headquarters may well dramatically improve EU capibilities.
In terms of India, we have a very good relationship with India, which is a Commonwealth Country, whilst China spends a mere 2% GDP on Defence, less than half the US GDP figure of 4.3%. Furthermore since when has China or India constituted a credible military threat to the EU. Whilst in terms of Defence Cuts, the US can hardly criticise Europe as it is making substantial cuts itself.
I think this administration doesn't know what it should do --- threaten war with Russian and maybe Syria again while shutting down bases in Europe and slashing the military to pre-WWII levels.
Kind of like putting an unguarded embassy in a terrorist region of Libya after destabilizing it.
They are offensive, not defensive, and they're there until you get your No-Fly Zone set up in Russia.
Strategically...
Mircea
I don't see why Russia and the EU in the longer term can't have good relations. A good article in today's Guardian by Marina Lewycka is a British novelist of Ukrainian origin, who provides a useful insight in to the current situation. As for US bases, it's up to the US, but once the most of the genuine US military bases it's also going to be time to pack up the US spy bases and the likes of Menwith Hill and Croughton.
In terms of the current situation in Ukraine it's a lot more complicated that some commentators have pointed out, as Marina Lewycka a British novelist of Ukrainian origin points out.
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