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The reduction of the American military presence in Europe is not a problem because of the number of troops, but because of the political message it sends.
This is how Italian General Vincenzo Camporini, former Chief of the General Staff of Defense and the Italian Air Force, explains.
In an interview with Italian media, Camporini said that the United States' decision to reduce the contingent in Europe calls into question the very implementation of NATO's Article 5, which guarantees the collective defense of the alliance.
“Five thousand fewer soldiers in Europe would not be a problem in itself, but the political significance of this American choice weighs heavily on the European continent,” he declared. “Donald Trump has openly said that he does not feel bound by the principle of collective defense. This means that Europe must learn to rely more on itself.”
According to Camporini, the decision confirms the Trump administration's lack of interest in Europe, unlike previous criticisms by American presidents of low European defense spending.
He said the reduction of the American presence could be gradual, but Europe must immediately begin reorganizing to avoid gaps in security.
The general stressed that perceptions of Russia vary within Europe itself. States near Russia's border, such as Poland, Finland, Sweden and the Baltic states, consider Moscow a serious threat, while countries like Italy see the Russian danger as more distant.
“But distance is relative,” he said. “Our border is closer to Ukraine than the distance between Trieste and Palermo.”
Camporini mentioned several strategic points that could be affected by an American withdrawal, including the Vicenza base, where the American paratrooper brigade is located, the Aviano air base and especially Sigonella in Sicily, an important center for surveillance of the Mediterranean.
He warned that Italy could remain uncovered in anti-submarine capabilities, as current Italian patrol aircraft do not have the same capabilities as previous models.
At the European level, Camporini expressed concern about the strategic Suwalki corridor, between Poland and Lithuania, which connects Belarus with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
"This is a supply route that Moscow can block without much difficulty," he said.
The general assessed that the number of soldiers is of relative importance in modern wars, citing the fact that Russia did not achieve its objectives in Ukraine despite the commitment of hundreds of thousands of troops.
According to him, technological dominance and control of telecommunications are becoming increasingly important. He mentioned the influence of private companies such as Elon Musk's Starlink and noted that the European satellite project Iris² is not expected to launch until 2030.
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