Europe remains central to US defense interests, Panetta says
Posted: February 4, 2012 at 10:45 a.m.
U. S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta speaks during the Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Politicians and military representatives will join for the 48th Munich Security conference from Friday, Feb. 3, until Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012.
MUNICH — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is reassuring Europe that it remains central to U.S. defense interests, even as the Obama administration is withdrawing two of the four Army brigades stationed on the continent.
In a speech Saturday to an international security conference, Panetta said Europe is America’s security partner of choice for military operations and diplomacy around the world.
He noted that the U.S. is building a missile defense system in Europe, including a radar station in Turkey and missiles that will be stationed in Romania and Poland. He also said four U.S. ships capable of shooting down missiles will be stationed at Rota, Spain.
Smaller Army units will rotate to Europe for temporary training assignments, he said.
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