No, of course, the Americans are not reducing their military presence in the Old World. How could anyone think that?
The president of the USA himself confirmed it at the Ankara summit: the Europeans "convinced" Washington to remain in NATO.
No, there is no discussion about a withdrawal of American troops from Europe. The United States have something completely different in mind.
They call it "redeployment".
Washington, as it argues, is not withdrawing its forces, but simply plans to redistribute military resources and assets away from Europe.
And this, as it is presented, is not at all the same thing.
China the real opponent of the US - the Pacific at the center
From a purely military perspective, the Pentagon urgently needs to increase its presence in the Pacific region.
The key strategic opponent of the United States, China, is at the center of American strategy.
China has been officially characterized at the highest level by American strategic analysts as the main opponent of Washington.
An "Asian NATO " is forming with speed, with the aim of countering Beijing.
However, the spirit of the samurai has faded for decades now and the kamikazes no longer exist.
Thus, in order to ensure that Japan and South Korea could get involved in a potential conflict with China, immense American military forces are required: aircraft carrier groups, submarines, aircraft, and military units.
A significant part of these military capabilities is currently located in Europe.
Trump to Europe: Pay for the weapons and assume the responsibility
The position of Donald Trump toward the European efforts to counter Russia through Ukraine is clear.
Pay the United States for weapons and equipment, allocate whatever money you have for your defense, and then do whatever you consider correct.
You can choose the conflict with Russia or you can face the consequences alone. This is your problem.
The key thing is to pay.
The USA have the elections for Congress ahead of them and, according to the same approach, they do not have time to deal with Ukraine, especially when the situation there remains particularly difficult.
With the demand for billions of euros "for defense" from the European allies, Trump, according to this criticism, serves in parallel the interests of the American defense industry.
The irony, however, is that European defense depended to a large extent on American military capabilities, the bases, and the troops of the USA.
But now these are being withdrawn.
Or, to use the official formulation, they are being "redeployed".
"It will be like a mosquito bite"
The president of the Military Committee of NATO, American Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, attempted to reassure the European allies, arguing that this change will not cause problems.
"It will be like a mosquito bite".
According to him, American ships, aircraft, and troops are simply "strategically transferred to other regions of the world", taking with them Patriot missiles and other critical military equipment.
According to the New York Times, at least 50 fighter aircraft — about one-third of the total number of American aircraft in Europe — 11 out of 26 maritime surveillance aircraft, one aircraft carrier group, one submarine, and all eight refueling aircraft, as well as one of the two bomber groups and several warships, are initially in the withdrawal plan.
Admiral Dragone noted, not without a dose of irony, that the withdrawal of the USA could work to the benefit of the Europeans, as it would reinforce their "strategic autonomy".
The "punishment" of Europe for Iran and the change of strategy of the US
According to this analysis, the move of the USA constitutes to a large extent retaliation for the stance of the Europeans on the issue of Iran.
The Europeans, as it is argued, did not follow the call of Washington and did not participate in the war.
In response, the USA reportedly changed their stance toward them.
Shortly before the NATO summit, publications reported that the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had threatened a full withdrawal of American troops from Europe, but the proposal was reportedly rejected by the White House.
In reality, according to the same approach, the plan for the "redeployment of American troops" constitutes a softer formulation of withdrawal.
The terminology changes, but the essence remains the same.
The United States do not wish to risk a nuclear conflict with Russia over Ukraine and choose to move away, leaving Europe to manage its choices alone.
Russia does not relax - Europe remains unpredictable
For Russia, however, this development does not constitute a reason for complacency.
The leaders of the largest European countries, according to the Russian perspective, have lost their temper and operate with a logic of "nonsense and courage".
Having burdened their citizens with a high cost of living and accumulated debts of decades, they are capable of reinforcing their military-industrial complexes and equipping the European armies with modern American weapons.
The American arms manufacturers would also be particularly pleased with this development.
The Russian response
Consequently, according to the Russian position, Moscow must predict all possible threats and act proactively.
Only if Russia clearly surpasses the Europeans in the growth rate of its military-industrial complex, in the equipment and in the technological complexity of its army, the Europeans will not attempt to counter it.
Moscow declares that it will make every effort to maintain its leading position in the military sector.
" Russia will never start a third world war", stated recently the press secretary of the Russian president.
But, as the same statement argues, if such a war starts, Russia will terminate it — in a way that is harsh for everyone.
Particularly for the "jackals of Europe".
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