US Military Network in Europe: From Germany to the Mediterranean

The United States government is currently reviewing its expansive network of military installations across Europe, a system that serves as the operational foundation for NATO activities, regional deterrence, and the projection of global power.

This network consists of more than 40 military bases spanning the continent, with locations reaching from northwestern Greenland to the border between Turkey and Russia. The majority of these installations are concentrated in central Europe, specifically within Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Force Composition and Deployment

According to the United States European Command (EUCOM), the U.S. Had nearly 84,000 servicemembers stationed in Europe in early 2025. Total personnel numbers frequently fluctuate based on regular rotations and planned military exercises.

The scale of deployment increased following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. At that time, approximately 20,000 additional U.S. Soldiers were deployed to states neighboring Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia to contain the conflict and provide support. Throughout the course of the war, total military personnel in the region—primarily from the Navy, Army, and Air Force—have ranged between 75,000 and 105,000.

Many of these bases are designed for NATO interoperability, allowing U.S. Troops to coordinate with alliance member states across workforce management, information networks, technologies, and general processes.

Command Structure and Regional Oversight

The strategic management of these forces is divided among specialized commands. The headquarters for EUCOM is located in Stuttgart, Germany, where it operates alongside the United States Africa Command.

Army operations within the areas of responsibility for both EUCOM and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) are directed by the United States Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF). This Army Service Component Command and Theater Army is headquartered at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne in Germany.

During the Cold War, USAREUR-AF supervised ground formations focused on the Warsaw Pact as part of NATO’s Central Army Group. Since 1989, the command has reduced its size while increasing security cooperation with NATO land forces and dispatching troops to various conflicts, including the Kosovo War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Persian Gulf War, and the War in Afghanistan.

Strategic Review and Security Risks

The current review of the base network by the U.S. Administration has prompted warnings from military leadership and retired commanding officers regarding the potential consequences of troop withdrawals or base closures.

On April 8, 2025, General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of EUCOM, testified before a Congressional committee, stating that Europe is the first line of defense of our homeland.

Retired officers associated with the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) have argued that these facilities are difficult to recover once lost and serve purposes beyond European regional security. Their specific concerns include:

• Admiral (Ret.) James Foggo stated that base closures and withdrawals would be interpreted by adversaries as a sign that the U.S. Is downgrading from a global power to a regional power.
• Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ben Hodges argued that such moves would lead Russia to conclude that the U.S. Is either unable or unwilling to protect Europe.
• Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen Twitty noted that withdrawals would result in a substantial loss of strategic depth and signal that the U.S. Is abandoning peace and security on the continent.
• Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Skip Davis asserted that any major pull-out would render U.S. Power projection less effective, costlier, and slower.

Operational Pressures

The European base network is currently facing tests from multiple geopolitical fronts. Beyond the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the network is being utilized in response to conflict in Iran. This includes the strategic role of the Ramstein base in Germany in managing operations related to the war in Iran.