U.S. to cut 7,000 Europe-based troops
10:14 13/01/2012 WASHINGTON, January 13 (RIA Novosti) - The United States will withdraw 7,000 troops from its 81,000-strong Europe-based forces, Pentagon spokesman George Little said on Friday.
Washington will withdraw two of four brigade combat teams stationed in Europe, Little said.
The announcement comes a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that the Pentagon would reduce forces in Europe as part of its new defense strategy, which seeks to cut U.S. defense spending by $487 billion over the next ten years.
Panetta said the U.S. military presence in Europe would be maintained by units on a rotating basis.
U.S President Barack Obama unveiled a 10-year defense strategy on January 5, focusing more on the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.
U.S. military strategists have voiced concerns about China and Iran’s rapidly growing air and naval power, and sought to move away from large Cold War era ground forces.
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