Germany’s own forces could defend it without US bases
Evidence
Still others, like the New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, argue that investing in disease research, education, and diplomacy would do more to protect U.S. citizens than bases in Germany. “Do we fear,” he asked in 2011, “that if we pull our bases from Germany, Russia might invade?” (Russia’s recent annexation of the nearly defenseless Crimea doesn’t make this far-fetched scenario any more likely; Germany, by itself, has nearly as many high-quality tanks as Russia, to say nothing of the rest of NATO.) — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 1032
Categorization
Category: Connection Points
- XREF: Relates to the European defense capability debate and the notion that US bases are as much about projecting power as defending host nations.
Related
- The U.S. holds more foreign bases than any empire in history (similarity 0.80)
- German politicians defended bases on economic rather than security grounds (similarity 0.78)