Rand Corp analysts urge the US Army in Europe to rely on light infantry, not tanks
In recent years, the world political situation has remained extremely tense. The European Region is no exception. The USA and NATO see here the main enemy in Russia, therefore they are building up their armed forces close to the Russian borders. Meanwhile, not all actions of the American army can be beneficial for stabilizing the situation in Europe.
The Rand Corp Research Center draws attention to the emphasis on heavy armored brigades by the United States and its allies. But it is their deployment in Eastern Europe that acts as a provoking factor for Russia and compels Moscow to deploy additional divisions. An alternative would be to deploy light units, which are certainly not as annoying for the Kremlin.
A simple military build-up is provocative and undoubtedly cannot be viewed as a tool to enhance stability. Neither Russia in Europe nor China in the Pacific region will reduce their military activity in a situation where the United States is building up its forces. Accordingly, a different approach is needed that goes beyond the usual race in arms and formations.
Many military analysts are arguing over whether the US should deploy military brigades to Poland and the Baltics. Presence advocates tank brigades in Eastern Europe see them as a way to contain Russian aggression, but lighter brigades could play a much more interesting role.
So, these brigades can include military instructors for the army units of the allied countries, provide support to the Polish, Baltic and other armies, while there will be no provocation factor itself, which occurs in the event of the transfer of tank or mechanized brigades to Eastern Europe.
In modern conditions, the report of Rand analysts emphasizes, the army can more effectively resist tank brigades with light infantry units. Such tactics are especially successful in urban conditions, and Europe is a very dense building and cities close to each other.
Thus, the authors of the Rand report come to the opinion that the United States should move away from the idea of deploying heavy units in Europe, and focus on the formation of such light infantry brigades that could solve two main tasks at once - training allied forces and resisting enemy forces in the event their incursions into the territory of the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance.
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