FURTHER MISSION GERMANY VIEWS ON PLANNED U.S.

S E C R E T BERLIN 001157

NOFORN
SIPDIS

OSD FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY VERSHBOW
STATE FOR EUR ASSISTANT SECRETARY GORDON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2019
TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PINS PREL PTER XG GM
SUBJECT: FURTHER MISSION GERMANY VIEWS ON PLANNED U.S.
FORCE REDUCTIONS IN EUROPE

REF: BERLIN 935

Classified By: AMBASSADOR PHILIP MURPHY. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (S/NF) I understand that there will be a Deputies' meeting
in Washington on September 18 to discuss the future of the
U.S. military force structure in Europe. Since the U.S.
European Command as well as the bulk of U.S. Army Europe
(USAREUR) and U.S. Air Forces Europe (USAFE) are located in
Germany, I want to emphasize that I completely support the
recommendation of my predecessor (reftel) that careful
reconsideration needs to be given to plans to continue the
draw-down of U.S. forces in Europe. The planned withdrawal
from Germany of two of the three remaining U.S. Army brigade
combat teams plus a squadron of U.S. Air Force fighter
aircraft will significantly shrink the U.S. military
footprint in Germany, which is already just a fraction of its
size during the Cold War.


2. (S/NF) In addition to the negative impact that such a
reduction will have on the ability of the U.S. military to do
theater security cooperation activities with Germany as well
as other NATO Allies and Partners, I fear it could also
significantly undermine the unique and special relationship
we have built and sustained with Germany over the last 60
years. We have already begun to feel the effects of our much
reduced military presence since the end of the Cold War.
Among the younger generation of Germans, who have much fewer
opportunities to meet and have personal connections with
Americans, there is already a tendency to put a lower
priority on the Transatlantic relationship and to view it as
less relevant than other institutions -- particularly the EU
-- in addressing 21st Century security challenges.


3. (S/NF) We should not underestimate the importance of the
personal, social and cultural ties that our military presence
in Germany fosters between our two countries. These kinds of
relationships cannot be built and sustained from afar. While
it is impossible to quantify how much of a presence is
enough, I would agree that we are already near the minimum,
especially in view of the fact that a third to half of the
U.S. forces stationed in Germany are deployed in Afghanistan,
Iraq or elsewhere outside of Europe at any given time.


4. (S/NF) Finally, it is important to note that the German
government not only strongly supports the maintenance of a
robust U.S. troop presence, but, in fact, expects this from
us. MOD State Secretary Wichert recently told us that
Germany would not want to become simply a hub for U.S. forces
transiting to other places. He stressed that the permanent
U.S. troop presence was important in showing a commitment to
our partnership. Defense Minister Jung explicitly confirmed
this in my introductory call with him last week. German
political support for the our troop presence will not change,
no matter which government coalition emerges from the
September 27 Bundestag election. There is currently a strong
political consensus in favor of the stationing of U.S. forces
in Germany, which gives us unparalleled stationing rights and
privileges as well as the ability to project force throughout
Eurasia and into the Middle East. But in going forward, we
need to be careful about taking any moves that makes it seem
like we take this very special relationship for granted.
Murphy