The United States will remain a key NATO ally and partner of Europe, but it wants to prioritize the defense of its own territory and deterrence of China. This is according to the White House's new national defense strategy.
According to the document, Washington will continue to play a central role in the North Atlantic Alliance. However, it plans to adjust its military presence in Europe.
Russia is a "persistent but manageable" threat to Europe
The document states that while the continent remains important, its "share of global economic power is smaller and declining." The United States will remain engaged there, but "must—and will—prioritize defending U.S. territory and deterring China."
American allies are to take the lead in addressing threats that are more serious for Europe than for the United States. However, the US will provide them with "critical, but somewhat more limited support." According to the document, Russia will remain a "persistent but manageable" threat to eastern NATO members.
As part of the strategy, the Pentagon has promised to provide Trump with options to "ensure US military and commercial access to key territories" in various parts of the world, including Greenland.
It should be added that the published document follows on from the national security strategy issued by the US in early December. This was perceived by Western allies as a departure from the tradition of close transatlantic cooperation. The Pentagon's new defense plan is more moderate towards European allies. However, it states that previous US strategies did not sufficiently take into account key national interests.
South Korea faces a similar problem
The Pentagon also anticipates a "more limited" role in deterring North Korea. According to the document, South Korea will assume primary responsibility for this task. This is a step that could lead to a reduction in the number of US troops on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea hosts approximately 28,500 US troops as part of a joint defense against the military threat from North Korea. Seoul increased its defense budget by 7.5 percent this year.
"South Korea is capable of taking the lead in deterring North Korea with critical but more limited US support," the US Department of Defense said.
Reuters notes that US officials have signaled in recent years a desire to increase the flexibility of US forces in South Korea so that they can potentially operate outside the Korean Peninsula in response to a wider range of threats, such as defending Taiwan from China.
South Korea, which has an army of about 450,000, has resisted the idea of moving US troops, but has worked over the past 20 years to strengthen its defense capabilities with the aim of taking command of the combined forces of Washington and Seoul in the event of war.
(reuters, sak, tasr, dpa)