The Flawed U.S. Approach to European Reassurance

Starting in 2017, Washington plans to begin heel-to-toe rotations of an armored brigade from the United States in Eastern Europe. In some respects, this represents a significant improvement over the assurance and deterrence steps taken by the United States and several of its NATO allies since 2014. Media accounts have somewhat breathlessly claimed the United States is “fortifying,” “beefing up,” and “significantly” increasing its military presence in Eastern Europe.

Although the administration’s plan is indeed a step in the right direction, it falls short of such hype. More broadly, the U.S. approach to reassurance and deterrence still suffers from some strategic shortcomings.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: US to step up NATO presence in wake of ‘aggressive Russia’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/us-to-step-up-nato-presence-in-wake-of-aggressive-russia/

ESO: Background information: NATO Secretary General welcomes US announcement to strengthen military presence in Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-secretary-general-welcomes-us-announcement-to-strengthen-military-presence-in-europe/

Blog: CSIS, 09.02.16: The European Reassurance Initiative https://www.csis.org/analysis/european-reassurance-initiative-0

US: Department for Defense: European Reassurance Initiative. Department of Defense Budget Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2017/FY2017_ERI_J-Book.pdf

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