Rep. Derek Schmidt Questions General Cavoli on US Ground Presence in Europe

Importance of Ground Presence in Europe

• 🌍 General Cavoli emphasizes the necessity of a heavy ground presence in Europe to counter Russia's advantage in positioning forces near alliance borders.
• ⚡ This presence helps mitigate the time-space problem for reinforcing allied forces before hostilities begin.
• 🇺🇸 The US carefully contributes unique and exquisite capabilities, balancing its commitment with that of European allies as they develop their own.

Strategic Advantages of Forward-Deployed Forces

• 🔑 General Cavoli highlights three principal components of military advantage: access, basing, and overflight.
• 🤝 These rely on deep relationships and preparedness to ensure forces are available when needed.
• 🚀 Having forces forward-deployed provides a military advantage for readiness and rapid deployment.

Responding to Global Interests

• 🗺️ The ability to base and access forces in Europe is fundamental to responding to American interests in the Middle East and other proximate areas.
• ✈️ Pre-deployment in Europe facilitates rapid response, as demonstrated by the movement of the Seventh Corps for Operation Desert Storm.
• 🌐 US forces are frequently deployed on short notice for various operations, including non-combatant evacuation operations and supporting Central Command.