Exercise Watch: Weiter geht’s, mehr US-Truppen in Europa (und in Deutschland)

Nur damit es nicht untergeht: Der Zustrom von US-Truppen nach Europa und vor allem nach Deutschland hält an. Über Panzer und A-10 Erdkampfflugzeuge hatte ich hier schon was geschrieben; auch hat der Befehlshaber der U.S. Army Europe einiges dazu erzählt. Aktuell vom (heutigen) Donnerstag das Foto oben mit diesem Bildtext:

A United States Air Force C-5 Galaxy raises its nose to offload Soldiers and equipment of the 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element Feb. 12, 2015. Members of the Fourth Infantry Division Headquarters are deploying to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve as the first Regionally Aligned Forces division headquarters for U.S. European Command under Army Europe’s enhanced land forces training and security cooperation activities.

The Fourth Infantry Division will serve as the division-level headquarters for all U.S. Army forces participating in Operation Atlantic Resolve. Those forces include rotational units that are conducting bi-lateral training as a part of the United States Army’s persistent presence in Europe, and those forces participating in the numerous exercises being conducted as a part of OAR. Operation Atlantic Resolve provides the Fourth Infantry Division the opportunity to work and train alongside our NATO allies, and forge relationships that foster trust and mutual understanding.

Die Operation Atlantic Resolve, um die es in Deutschland selbst merkwürdig still ist (vielleicht fehlt auch nur das öffentliche Interesse, obwohl das Zentrum in Bayern liegt, nämlich auf dem Truppenübungsplatz Grafenwöhr), hat nicht nur einen, sondern gleich zwei Internetauftritte, dazu ein Fact Sheet und klare Ansagen, warum es diese Übungsserie gibt:

In light of Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine, Operation Atlantic Resolve is a visible demonstration of U.S. commitment to the security of NATO allies. In meeting our global security commitments, the United States must have strong, committed and capable allies, which is why we have fought, exercised and trained with our European allies for the past 70 years. The U.S.-European strategic partnership is built on a foundation of shared values, experiences and interests in a Europe that is stable and prosperous.

Russia’s aggressive actions have already led many to call for reinforcing NATO’s readinessthrough Article 5-related planning training and adjustments to force posture.
Operation Atlantic Resolve will remain in place as long as the need exists to reassure our allies and deter Russia from regional hegemony.

(Foto: 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command Public Affairs via Flickr unter CC-BY-Lizenz)