US Troops in Europe

Abstract

The evolution toward US-Soviet strategic parity in the late 1960s had strengthened the need for conventional forces in NATO. Yet there was a growing Senate pressure for a reduction of US troops in Europe. In preparing for the twentieth-anniversary celebration of NATO in Washington, Kissinger in a memorandum urged President Nixon to emphasize the Administration’s commitment to maintain strong American forces in Europe, but pointed out that Congressional support required proportionate contributions from the Allies.1 This recommendation was consistent with Kissinger’s conviction that the defence of Western Europe could not be left to the Europeans, regardless of their stand on burden-sharing. But it also reflected his concern that Congress might legislate troop reductions unless the Allies appeared to make the proportionate contributions.