This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
December 9, 2019, marked a significant shift in US military strategy in Europe, as General Christopher Cavoli announced plans for the largest deployment of US troops in years.
According to Cavoli, 20,000 US-based troops will deploy to Europe in 2024, joining the 9,000 already stationed there. This massive deployment is part of the Defender-Europe 20 exercise, which aims to demonstrate the US military's ability to quickly deploy a large force to support NATO and respond to any crisis.
The exercise will involve 37,000 troops from 10 European countries, with the US-based forces beginning to flow in as early as February 2024. The logistical challenge of moving 13,000 pieces of equipment, including tanks, artillery, and transport vehicles, across 2,500 miles will be daunting, particularly given the differences in rail gauges and bridge capacity between former Soviet countries and western Europe.
General Cavoli attributed the need for this deployment to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, which he said 'changed everything.' The US Army's ability to project power is 'absolutely fundamental' to its operations, he emphasized.
