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By Rachel Kibbe Williams USSTRATCOM
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. – Adm. Charles Richard, U.S. Strategic Command commander, toured the U.S. European Command area of responsibility Oct. 18 to 20, to engage and foster military-to-military and governmental relationships with U.S. allies and partners.
During his visit, Richard met with senior government and military representatives from Germany and the United Kingdom as well as U.S. service members deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford, England. The trip also provided opportunities to underscore the United States’ ironclad commitment to NATO and the critical role allies around the world play in enhancing global security.
“The role our allies play in the integrated deterrent equation cannot be understated,” Richard said. “Our global partnerships are the alliance’s greatest strategic assets. Our strength is multiplied when we combine efforts to address challenges, and widen the circle of cooperation.”
Richard first stopped in Stuttgart, Germany, where he participated in Warfighter Talks and met with U.S. Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters, commander, U.S. European Command, and Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command. The leaders discussed regional security challenges and opportunities to enhance integrated deterrence activities between their combatant commands.
In London, Richard met with senior military and government officials, highlighting the longstanding U.S.-U.K. relationship and its importance to 21st century strategic deterrence. Richard also toured King’s College and met with students to discuss the need for innovative ways to think about deterrence strategy in today’s three-nuclear-party dynamic.
“The U.S. and our allies face nuclear threats by two strategic competitors who must be deterred at the same time, but with different deterrence strategies,” Richard said. “At STRATCOM we are re-writing operational deterrence theory and asking the hard questions. But we can’t do this alone. This will take a concerted effort from not only military minds, but it is also an academic undertaking.”
Richard concluded his trip meeting with airmen from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, deployed to RAF Fairford in support of a Bomber Task Force mission.
USSTRATCOM continues to maintain the readiness and capabilities of the nuclear umbrella providing extended deterrence, and trips like this reaffirm America’s commitment to protect allies and uphold regional security.