President of Finland Alexander Stubb has stated that the United States will not withdraw its troops from Europe, as their presence on the continent is part of Washington’s global military strategy. He said this in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
Source: “Espreso”
According to Stubb, even a possible reduction of the U.S. contingent in Europe is not a critical factor for regional security.
“I am not particularly concerned about a possible withdrawal of 5,000 out of 37,000 American troops stationed in Germany. The United States will not leave Europe. If they want to project power in regions such as the Middle East, Asia, or Africa, they need reliable bases here,” the Finnish president said.
He added that U.S. troops are present in Europe not only for its defense but also to support America’s status as a global power.
At the same time, Stubb emphasized that Europe should gradually take on more responsibility in the field of defense.
He recalled that Finland’s defense model has always been based on the principle of self-reliance in defending against threats from Russia.
“My answer is: if we can defend ourselves, then NATO can too,” the Finnish president concluded.
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