US reassures Europe over defence cuts

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http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/02/201224143021302887.html

The US Defence Secretary has reassured European allies that Washington remains committed to their security despite an austerity drive, as NATO pushed for new ways for alliance members to maintain its capabilities at lower cost.

Leon Panetta said the US Army would still have about 37,000 soldiers in Europe even after it withdraws two of its four combat brigades, about 7,000 soldiers, as part of efforts to cut $487bn from the defence budget over the next decade.

"Our military footprint in Europe will remain larger than in any other region of the world," Panetta told a Munich security conference on Saturday.

"That's not only because the peace and prosperity of Europe is critically important to the United States, but because Europe remains our security partner of choice for military operations and diplomacy around the world. We saw that in Libya last year, and we see it in Afghanistan every day," he said.