http://thehill.com/policy/defense/228867-pentagon-announces-base-closures-in-europePentagon announces base closures in Europe
By Kristina Wong - 01/08/15 09:00 AM EST
The U.S. military is returning 15 bases and facilities back to their host nations throughout Europe, the Pentagon announced Thursday.
The closures are part of a plan to consolidate infrastructure and save money.
The closures and consolidations will affect facilities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Portugal.
The closures will save the U.S. $500 million annually, the Pentagon said in a statement.
The Pentagon also announced the first basing in Europe of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, at Royal Air Force Station (RAF) Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.
The first aircraft are scheduled to arrive in 2020. Two squadrons will be permanently based there.
"The presence of U.S. F-35s at [Royal Air Force Station] Lakenheath will deepen our already close partnership and offer new opportunities for collaboration between the U.S. and the U.K.," the Pentagon said in a statement.
The two moves would will result in a net decrease of about 2,000 troops and civilian personnel in the U.K. over the next several years, the Pentagon said.
The removal of about 3,200 U.S. personnel from Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall will be offset by the addition of about 1,200 U.S. troops who will be permanently stationed with the two F-35 squadrons.
Various U.S. units will rotate through Germany during the next several years, with an anticipated increase of several hundred troops.
The Pentagon will also add 300 troops to Italy when the 606th Air Control Squadron from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany is relocated there.
There will be a decrease of about 500 troops and civilians from Portugal from Lajes Field in the Azores.
Lawmakers and some defense experts have criticized the Pentagon for downsizing the number of U.S. forces in Europe, given a resurgent threat from Russia.
However, the Pentagon said troops would be positioned to still allow the U.S. and NATO allies to respond quickly to crises worldwide.
The White House's $985 million European Reassurance Initiative, approved by Congress in December, will support a rotational presence of U.S. troops for training, exercises, and other NATO activities, the Pentagon said.
It will also support an increase of U.S. and NATO military presence in eastern Europe, pre-position U.S. equipment in Europe and go towards building the capacity of allies Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.
The first round of base and facilities closures in Europe were announced in May, in a move to save $60 million annually.
