Military Bases of the Great Powers in the Balkans in Function of Realization of Their Geostrategic Interests

Abstract

In 2006, the U.S. started to implement strategic plans to strengthen their military presence in South-Eastern Europe by restructuring and deploying U.S. forces. With these plans they intended to gradually abandon the concept of establishing large military bases far from potential conflict zones, and establish instead smaller military bases closer to locations where the US Army forces can be used. This was formalized by signing defence cooperation agreements (DCAs), as the one with Poland, as well as with the new NATO member countries, Romania and Bulgaria. This strategic commitment was also confirmed by the 2010 National Security Strategy, which provides strategic guidance for repositioning sites and positioning part of their military bases on European territory. Thus, they partially repositioned from the developed countries of Western Europe to the so-called poor regions of “new Europe” - Romania, Poland and Bulgaria. The main reason for this is to confront the countries which support terrorism. Moreover, with this approach the emphasis is again on security policies, which should ensure realization of national political and economic interests.