TEHRAN (Basirat)- The United States is unlikely to reduce its military presence in Europe since this is the most efficient instrument to control the continent along with North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, as well as trade routes in the Atlantic worth over $4 billion annualy, political analyst Andrey Koshkin told Radio Sputnik.
"Geopolitical configuration has forced the United States to hold on
to Europe like to no other part of the world," he said. "This is what
allows Washington to control North Africa, the Middle East and Central
Asia, let alone trade routes across the Atlantic Ocean that yield more
than $4 billion per year."
The only way for the US to "keep tabs" on its allies in Europe is to be
present in the region, the analyst added. The fact that Washington pays
the largest share of NATO's military budget is not enough.
"Physical presence in the countries and joint military drills are
the one efficient mechanism that forces Europe to obey the US," he said.
Koshkin further turned to Washington's pivot to Asia. He pointed out
that even when the US decreases its military presence somewhere in the
world, these cuts do not affect the Pentagon's capabilities in the
Asia-Pacific.
The analyst views this as Washington's long-term strategy that will not be affected by the November presidential election.
"It is highly unlikely that anything will change when the next US
president comes to power. This strategy will be expanded to include
necessary military installations, financial streams and agreements. This
will help to expand NATO to the Asia-Pacific since the rise of Russia
and China is a matter of major concern to the US," he said.