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US military cuts European air bases

January 8, 2015

The US military will close 15 air bases in Europe, including several in Germany, and a major base in Britain. The Pentagon has touted the move as a major cost-cutting exercise.

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Aus für US-Militär-Standorte Schweinfurt und Bamberg
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

The Pentagon has moved to consolidate the operations of the US military in Europe, announcing the closure of 15 bases. The biggest base to end operations is at RAF Mildenhall in Britain, which is home to refueling tanker aircraft and special operations forces.

Some of the 2,000 military personnel withdrawn from Britain and other countries, such as Portugal, will be shifted to Germany and Italy. While a number of German bases are to close, the American military presence in the country will actually increase by several hundred troops over the coming years.

The Pentagon said there are some 67,000 US troops currently stationed in Europe, including 40,000 in Germany.

In Germany, the bases to close are: a logistics base in Mainz-Kastel in the state of Hesse, the Barton Barracks in the Bavarian town of Ansbach, a storage facility in Weilimdorf in Baden Württemberg, and the Husterhöh barracks in Pirmasens, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The stations subject to partial closure are the Pulaski Barracks in Kaiserslautern (Rhineland-Palatinate), and the Artillery barracks in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Bavaria).

The move is expected to save the US government about $500 million (424 million euros) in defense spending each year. The Pentagon has insisted the savings will not result in a loss of American military power.

"In the end, this transformation of our infrastructure will help maximize our military capabilities in Europe and help strengthen our important European partnerships, so that we can best support our NATO allies and partners in the region," outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said.

The Pentagon's announcement comes during tensions between Russia and NATO over Moscow's annexation of Crimea, and apparent support of pro-Russia separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine - something the Kremlin has denied doing.

The plan to pull out of Mildenhall in Britain will be partially offset by US plans to deploy two squadrons of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at nearby Lakenheath.

jr/msh (AFP, Reuters)