| More here than meets the eye, methinks. |
The United States plans to cut by almost a third the number of military personnel currently deployed at the Rota naval base in Spain. The US is to withdraw an entire special forces unit as well as an air reconnaissance squadron. In May, it was reported that the US was considering a plan to concentrate its special forces units in Europe, at present scattered across the continent, at its base at Rota. The Spanish daily 'El Pais' reported that marine, army and air force special forces units are currently stationed in Britain, Germany and Italy. A possible regrouping of the forces at Rota was thought to have been discussed during a visit by Spanish defence minister Jose Bono to the US, the first such visit since the Socialist government came to office in 2004 and pulled its forces out of Iraq. | And perhaps some additional discussion with former president Aznar in Washington |
According to 'El Pais', General James Jones, commander in chief of US forces in Europe, planned to create an "advance post" for US special forces somewhere in southern Europe to "confront the emerging threats in eastern Europe, the Caucasus and in a large part of Africa". Such a move was seen as in line with the Pentagon's decision to regroup its forces in Europe and cut back the number of its bases on the continent. The move would bring US special forces closer to Africa. Recently they have conducted manoeuvres or training missions in Morocco, Algeria and various countries in sub-Saharan Africa. |