Fewer U.S. troops for Europe?

A shift by Bush toward Asia could leave fewer U.S. troops in Europe

LONDON, England (CNN) -- With U.S. President George W. Bush signalling a shift in military strategy towards a greater emphasis on Asia, some defence analysts foresee fewer American troop deployments in Europe.

More than 310,000 U.S. troops and their dependents remain based in the region, which served as America's main bulwark against a perceived Soviet threat through decades of Cold War.

Of these, just over 110,000 -- more than half of whom are based in Germany -- were active military personnel as of June 1999, according to the U.S. Defense Department. An additional 38,000 U.S. troops are serving with KFOR in Kosovo.

ALSO Map: U.S. troop strength in Europe

It is still unclear what, if any, effects the shift in priorities by the Bush administration are likely to have in numerical terms. In one area a change has already been seen: the United States pledged in March to reduce the number of its troops in Bosnia, from 4,400 to 3,500, with the cuts slated to take place by the end of April.

The reductions included removal of all 16 Apache attack helicopters in the area, along with some of the Army's heavy M-1 Abrams tanks and M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Under the strategic rejuggling, the U.S. is likely to encourage Europe to carry more of its own defence burden -- a goal that a new European rapid reaction force, now in the works, is meant to address.

At the same time, there are still some in America's military and political establishments who fear the possible consequences that greater European military autonomy, in the guise of closer regional defence ties, may have on the cohesion of the Western NATO alliance.