[tharkun__]

How many military bases does the US have in Switzerland again?

Oh, the number is zero?

Germany? Well guess what, the US has a very prominent airbase and listening station in Ramstein and a bunch of other military installations there. Also: History.

[watwut]

But none of that benefits Germany that much. Being in aliance like NATO with duty for mutual protection benefits them, but american military basis are setup primary for american benefit.

Germany would want them in Poland or such, near to Russia which is an actual threat.

[rayiner]

Isn’t the main benefit to America of bases in Germany connected to its commitment to defend European security? If the U.S. didn’t have NATO obligations, how much would it benefit from having German bases?

[watwut]

To be able to take territory when it wants something like greenland? Cause speaking about NATO, exactly one country triggerend article 5 and then threatened other members.

Second, more to the point they have rather large military hospital there. It is also used as a safe place to transfer troops through or have them ready for outside of eu operations.

Commitment to European security would be to not support Russia. Or soldiers in Poland and Latvia. As of now, European countries paid for missiles and US is refusing to deliver.

America complained and pressured whenever Europeans bought arms from non american manufacturers. Thr first time it started to matter for real, it stopped delivering.

[Arnt]

There was a brief unfortunate episode a couple of hundred years ago, when the US was as little over twenty years old.

Some Africans started capturing American citizens and ships, maybe enslaving some, etc. Really quite unpleasant. The US eventually decided that its best option was invading Morocco.

It didn't have a commitment to defend anyone nearby, except the many Americans who traded all over the world.

The US has worldwide trade and interests now too, more so than in 1805.