The United States says it will close more than a dozen bases in Europe in a move the Defense Department expects to save $500 million per year when fully implemented, with no impact on the military’s ability to respond across Europe.
The list of European base closures announced Thursday includes operations at Royal Air Force base Mildenhall northeast of London. The base closure is among the largest since the end of the Cold War.
The base is home to tanker, reconnaissance and special operations aircraft, and 3,200 U.S. military personnel and their families.
The U.S. also will end operations at 14 other bases in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Many of the bases have been in use since about the time of World War II.
Analysts tell The Wall Street Journal the European base closings should help smooth the way for more base closings in the United States.
