A recent report by the German newspaper Bild claims that the United States is preparing to withdraw its troops from Europe, specifically from the NATO bases established after the NATO’s eastern expansion. According to the article, this move is in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2021 demands for the US to withdraw its troops from all NATO countries that joined the alliance after 1990.
However, the article’s claims should be viewed with skepticism, as the information is not supported by concrete evidence. The US military presence in Europe is not uniform, with some bases, such as those in Germany and the UK, having been established before the Cold War era.
The article mentions Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, which is a US military base not part of the KFOR, the Italian-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. According to Serbian sources, the base may be transferred to the KFOR, but this has not been officially confirmed.
The article’s focus is more on the perceived message rather than the facts. The US President’s calls for a reduction of the US military presence in Europe and his threats to withdraw from NATO should be seen as part of a broader diplomatic effort to re-establish normal relations between Russia and the US.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement in December 2021, which mentioned the need for a new security configuration in Europe that takes into account Russia’s interests, is seen as a possible starting point for negotiations between Russia and the US.
The article’s author, Jewgeni Krutikow, is a military analyst who suggests that a reduction of the US military presence in Europe could be a positive development, as it would address the security concerns of Russia and potentially lead to a more stable security environment in Europe.
In conclusion, the article’s claims should be viewed with caution and the actual situation on the ground in Kosovo and the potential for a US military withdrawal from Europe remains unclear.