The U.S. Defense1 Ministry2 has announced to shut down 15 air bases in Europe due to tight budgets and a shrinking military.
美国国防部宣布因为预算紧张以及军队减缩，将关闭欧洲15处空军基地。
The Pentagon says it is ending operations at an air base in Britain and handing it and 14 other sites in Europe back to their home governments in a move projected to save $500 million
annually3.
RAF Mildenhall in the northeast of London will be
divested4 with 3,200 military personnel and their families to be
withdrawn5 over the next several years.
Derek Chollet, Assistant Secretary Defense for International Security Affairs, told a news conference the changes would not affect
capabilities6.
"With these EIC decisions we are
consolidating7 and reducing some existing support
infrastructure8 in order to be more efficient, but we are not affecting our operational
capability9. The EIC adjustments do not diminish our ability to meet our commitments to allies and partners."
The net loss of U.S. troops in Britain would be about 2,000, the biggest of the
consolidation10 moves in Europe in terms of personnel.
Many other facilities will also be closed with personnel withdrawn in Germany and Portugal.
John Conger, U.S.
Acting11 Deputy under Secretary of Defense says the measures will preserve and reduce resources.
The Europe base moves come as the Pentagon is under orders to reduce projected spending by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade.
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