“President Trump has criticized Europe for staying on the sidelines in the Iran war. But many European countries are quietly playing a crucial supporting role.
While many European leaders have publicly decried the U.S. attacks on Iran, behind the scenes their military bases are facilitating one of the most logistically complex operations the U.S. military has been involved in for decades.
In recent weeks, U.S. bombers, drones and ships have been fueled, armed and launched via bases in the U.K., Germany, Portugal, Italy, France and Greece, officials say.
Attack drones are being directed from a U.S. base at Ramstein in Germany, the nerve center of U.S. operations against Iran, German and U.S. officials said.
Heavy B-1 bombers have been photographed loading munitions and fuel at RAF Fairford in the U.K. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is docked at a naval base in Crete to undergo repairs after suffering damage from a fire.
U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's top military commander, said in recent Senate testimony that most European allies "have been extremely supportive."
The Continent, which is home to around 40 U.S. military bases and 80,000 U.S. service personnel, is a launchpad for U.S. operations in both the Middle East and Africa.
"The distances are shorter, it's less expensive, and it's much easier to project power with our network of bases and allies," he said.
For years, Trump has berated his European counterparts and hinted that the U.S. might pull support for NATO, including most recently when Europeans initially refused to answer his calls to escort shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Operation Epic Fury shows the price the U.S. would pay if it fully withdrew its military presence from the Continent.
While European militaries have shrunk since the end of the Cold War, they remain trusted allies. A network of bilateral agreements with European governments allows U.S. ammunition, technology and personnel to be positioned at European bases.
Europe's location at the intersection of Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia makes it ideal for rapid deployment in all directions, retired Maj. Gen. Gordon B. Davis, a former director of operations at U.S. European Command, told the Center for European Policy Analysis last year.
Bases in Europe house critical U.S. intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities. Aircraft can refuel and rearm on the ground, rather than flying many extra hours back to the U.S.
The bases allow the U.S. to quickly detect threats headed toward the homeland, deter Russia and project force abroad, some analysts say.
This setup has been stress-tested by the current conflict. European leaders are wary of being seen to directly support the war, which is driving up energy costs and proving deeply unpopular with voters.
They also want to avoid alienating the U.S.
So far, political dissent at the top hasn't translated into operational constraint on the ground.
The exception is Spain, which has denied the U.S. permission to use jointly operated military bases on its territory to attack Iran.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also barred the U.S. from using U.K. air bases during the initial assault on Tehran. He later changed his position, saying the U.S. could fly "defensive" bombing missions to target Iranian missile launchers from both RAF Fairford and the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean.” [1]
1. World News: Europe Quietly Plays Crucial War Role. Colchester, Max; Pancevski, Bojan. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 24 Mar 2026: A8.
Komentarų nėra:
Rašyti komentarą