US military to close base in Britain in cost-cutting move

The US military will close a major air base in Britain and withdraw from 14 other installations across Europe as part of a reorganisation of forces, the Pentagon said today.
US operations at RAF Mildenhall in Britain will end as part of a money-saving consolidation plan that will result "in a slight decrease in our force levels" in the region but no loss to American military power, the Pentagon said.
Despite the closure of Mildenhall and smaller outposts elsewhere including the withdrawal of 500 troops from Lajes Field in Portugal the United States remains committed to its European allies, Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel said.

"In the end, this transformation of our infrastructure will help maximise our military capabilities in Europe and help strengthen our important European partnerships, so that we can best support our NATO allies and partners in the region," Hagel said in a statement.
Some of the forces withdrawn from Britain, Portugal and elsewhere will be shifted to Germany and Italy, officials said.
The moves will mean a net decrease of about 2,000 US military and civilian personnel in Britain, while in Germany, the American military presence will increase by several hundred troops over the next several years.
The Pentagon said the reorganisation will save the US government about USD 500 million a year and enable a more efficient use of resources.

"Our historic relationship with the US remains as strong as ever, and their decision to base their first European F-35 squadrons in the UK clearly reflects the closeness of our partnership, as well as the American commitment to NATO and Europe," British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said in a statement.