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Started By
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You Vets that were stationed in Europe for an extended amount of time I have a question.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 2:51 pm
Posted on 4/6/26 at 2:51 pm
How bad will it hurt the local economies surrounding these bases where U.S. troops are located if Trump either pulls out all together or drastically reduces the U.S. presence in say a country like Italy?
Based on the experience you folks had would you say it would really hurt the locals or really not be noticed and felt?
Based on the experience you folks had would you say it would really hurt the locals or really not be noticed and felt?
13
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:08 pm to RollingwiththeTide
It would be way more significant than if they did that to Colorado Springs (they have 2 AFB's (counting the Air Force Academy), a SFB and an Army base). When I lived in COS, they were constantly concerned about losing "business". Tbh, it would have destroyed the local economy.
We have several bases (very large bases) in Germany. If we shutdown one major base in one city in Germany it would seriously injure its local economy.
We have several bases (very large bases) in Germany. If we shutdown one major base in one city in Germany it would seriously injure its local economy.
This post was edited on 4/6/26 at 3:09 pm
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:11 pm to RollingwiththeTide
quote:
How bad will it hurt the local economies surrounding these bases where U.S. troops are located if Trump either pulls out all together or drastically reduces the U.S. presence in say a country like Italy?
Based on the experience you folks had would you say it would really hurt the locals or really not be noticed and felt?
I doubt it would hurt much at all. We've closed large bases all over Germany the past 20 years with pretty much no impact to their economies.
Heidelberg, Schweinfurt, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Mannheim, etc.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:15 pm to RollingwiththeTide
Short term, it would hurt those local economies very bad, especially if it was done with little to no notice.
Long term, Germany has done a good job redeveloping the areas around former US and allied bases that have been vacated since the end of the Cold War or BRAC. Mannheim is a great example of it, and although Kaiserslautern still has a significant US presence (though much smaller than during the Cold War and the 1990s), it no longer has the ghetto K-town reputation it formally had.
Long term, Germany has done a good job redeveloping the areas around former US and allied bases that have been vacated since the end of the Cold War or BRAC. Mannheim is a great example of it, and although Kaiserslautern still has a significant US presence (though much smaller than during the Cold War and the 1990s), it no longer has the ghetto K-town reputation it formally had.
This post was edited on 4/6/26 at 3:17 pm
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:15 pm to theballguy
The economic consequences of all this is probably not talked about enough. I was pretty sure that US troops probably contribute to the local economies but I just wasn’t sure how much. The economic loss could turn out to be a bigger deal for some of these countries than the loss of the defense part of it.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:20 pm to RollingwiththeTide
quote:
The economic loss could turn out to be a bigger deal for some of these countries than the loss of the defense part of it.
Hyper-locally, maybe. Country-wide? They wouldn't notice.
We have nowhere near the troops stationed in Europe that we used to have.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:24 pm to Centinel
Well I’m pretty sure the bar and nightclub industry will suffer terribly lol.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:46 pm to RollingwiththeTide
It's not so much the troop spending as it is the jobs available for the local civilians. That's what is the big deal to the local municipalities.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:49 pm to RollingwiththeTide
Kaiserslautern Military will take a hit
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:52 pm to Jbird
Ya, K-town is one of the exceptions because so much of that city was built up around our military presence there, and it's always been a big one, especially if you include Ramstein and Landstuhl.
Mannheim and Heidelberg didn't really notice when we pulled out because of the metro population there.
Mannheim and Heidelberg didn't really notice when we pulled out because of the metro population there.
This post was edited on 4/6/26 at 3:53 pm
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:54 pm to RollingwiththeTide
I say pull them all out.
The only one where we might be of use is actually South Korea. We keep things at bay there. Not sure what SK or NK would do if we bolted. Maybe nothing. Maybe eventually nuke each other.
The only one where we might be of use is actually South Korea. We keep things at bay there. Not sure what SK or NK would do if we bolted. Maybe nothing. Maybe eventually nuke each other.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:55 pm to RollingwiththeTide
Ramstein was my first base. The local area would definitely take a huge hit.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 3:56 pm to dgnx6
It benefits us logistically to maintain bases in Europe.
However nothing says we can't move them all to eastern Europe (which is pretty much what we're doing anyway) and tell western Europe to frick off.
However nothing says we can't move them all to eastern Europe (which is pretty much what we're doing anyway) and tell western Europe to frick off.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:01 pm to Centinel
Plenty of bases would kick local communities asses.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:13 pm to theballguy
Well that would make a lot of sense. Until you just brought it up that is something I didn’t really even think about. Im sure places like Germany and the Uk will do just fine but there are other places that might not fair as well.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:14 pm to RollingwiththeTide
I don’t care…
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:31 pm to Murph4HOF
quote:I did not know their reputation preceded them anywhere outside the installation my Dad got us stationed at (Stuttgart)
it no longer has the ghetto K-town reputation it formally had.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:33 pm to Knight of Old
It’s not that I care. I’m just curious I guess.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:33 pm to UsingUpAllTheLetters
Ya, that's the whole reason it was called K-Town in the first place
Most US bases were located in fairly picturesque towns and cities. Not K-Town. That place has always been a dump.
Most US bases were located in fairly picturesque towns and cities. Not K-Town. That place has always been a dump.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:55 pm to Centinel
quote:
I doubt it would hurt much at all. We've closed large bases all over Germany the past 20 years with pretty much no impact to their economies. Heidelberg, Schweinfurt, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Mannheim, etc.
I disagree with you!
I live in Fajardo, PR where we had a military base in Ceiba that was a submarine station and also had a military airport/base and when they left it killed the economy in Fajardo and Ceiba!
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