U.S. Troop Pullout Would Hit Germany Hard

While the Pentagon is downplaying media reports that the United States could withdraw up to half of its troops in Germany, local regions who would be affected by this move are worried.

Across Germany, the United States has stationed some 71,000 soldiers. Some of the most significant bases are located in structurally weak regions, which are dependent on the purchasing power of the troops.

The Kaiserlautern Military Community (KMC), for example, is home to over 20,000 army and airforce troops, civilians and retirees, plus the same number of U.S. dependents. According to the most recent annual economic impact report at the 435th Comptroller Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, KMC last year pumped nearly $1.29 billion into the area’s economy.

That factors in everything from housing expenditures to construction to getting a haircut. It also includes the 6,190 German employees who draw their salaries from the military community.

Extensive impact

"It is really a bit early to speculate, though," said Eric Schaefer, press spokesman for the Interior Ministry of Rhineland-Palatinate. He told DW-WORLD that it isn't clear yet which bases will be affected and to what extent.

"But if troops leave here, it will have extensive implications," he added. "That is clear."

The town of Baumholder, for example, has a population of 5,000. It is also home to the same number of U.S. troops. "So you can imagine what impact it would have if the base was closed," Schaefer said.

The fact that the United States plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Central Europe is no secret. But, according to the Washington Post report from Thursday, the force reductions could be much higher than was expected.

The paper reported the U.S. administration was nearing approval of the plans as part of a global force realignment that may halve the U.S. military presence in Germany. It would also reduce the numbers of troops in Japan and South Korea.

Germany not being punished

Douglas J. Feith, Pentagon undersecretary for policy, told the Washington Post the changes in troop levels were in no way connected to Germany's opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

"The one thing I would strongly refute, because it comes up all the time, is the notion that we're withdrawing forces to punish the Germans somehow," Feith said. "What we're doing is not at all tied to current events. We're looking at this in terms of changes that will last decades."

While not denying that plans call for cuts that deep, U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that the administration was just beginning to consult with allies and could not know until after that process what the outcome will be.

The German government has been reserved in its reaction. A spokesman said Defense Minister Peter Struck and his U.S. counterpart had agreed in February on a close coordination over the troops' withdrawal. Rumsfeld had told Struck that a final decision would be made by the end of the year.