Christoph Hasselbach
This U.S. Air Base in Germany is of large importance for US and NATO military operations. peculiar controversy in Germany is caused by the Ramstein-controlled combat drone missions.
The American Air Base in Ramstein is the planet itself. It is located in the west of Germany, close the town of Ramstein-Miesenbach. This is where the vast military area with runways, hangars and many buildings is located. It is like a separate tiny town in the mediate of the idyllic scenery of the Rhineland-Palatinate, strictly cut off from the surrounding hilly terrain. And while the air base is in German territory, it enjoys immunity like a abroad embassy. German officials and politicians can only enter with the approval of the American commander.
About 9,000 people work in Ramstein. It is the largest American air force base in Europe. close is besides the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest American military infirmary outside the US. In total, about 50,000 Americans and their families live in the region around the close town of Kaiserslautern. They have their own schools, shops and service providers and frequently pay in dollars for them. American facilities are besides very crucial for the local economy.
Ramstein became more important
It all started in 1952 at the airport utilized by the Nazi Luftwaffe and captured by the American Army shortly before the end of the war in 1945. After the war, the airport and administrative way gradually grew into an ever-increasing complex for US troops in Germany and yet for NATO.
Since 1971, Ramstein has been stationed in Military Airlift Command and its transport aircraft. In 1973, the United States Air Force office in Europe was moved from Wiesbaden to Ramstein. A year later, Ramstein besides became the NATO Air Force Command Centre. With Ramstein NATO monitors the rocket defence of the alliance, as well as the space activities of associate States. NASA besides sometimes uses Ramstein for investigation flights.
Probably until 2005, which was never officially confirmed, atomic weapons were besides stored in Ramstein. Currently, the only known location in Germany where American atomic weapons are stored is the Büchel Air Base, located about 100 km north of Ramstein, close Koblence.
Battle drone missions
Ramstein Air Base is of large importance to the US Armed Forces worldwide. This is the most crucial transport hub for the US Air Force, especially for missions in Africa, the mediate East and east Europe.
Ramstein is besides of peculiar and increasing importance due to the mission control center of American combat drones worldwide. This has repeatedly led to debates on Germany's possible engagement in the deliberate killing of terrorist suspects in Asia and Africa. In 2013, erstwhile these allegations appeared in the media, then US president Barack Obama said that Germany was not a "start point" for drone attacks – although it did not silence critics. Obama then announced that drone attacks were the most crucial tool in the alleged "global war on terrorism".
The air base besides went to the front pages of the newspapers due to the alleged spread of terrorist suspects to secret prisons.
Evacuation flights from Afghanistan
The airport is besides regularly utilized for evacuation flights. Ramstein played a key function in the evacuation of people from Afghanistan in the summertime of 2021 after the Taliban took over power. The air base area was temporarily converted into a immense shelter town, in which the temporarily evacuated were accommodated.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Ramstein, there have been meetings of politicians and military from countries supporting Ukraine. US Secretary of defence Lloyd Austin invited respective times to Ramstein representatives of respective twelve states to discuss arms supplies to Ukraine. Hence, erstwhile speaking of countries supporting Ukraine, the word ‘Ramstein Group’ is used.
Terrorist attack and disaster during air shows
In the 1980s, Ramstein's Air Force Base hit the headlines twice worldwide. In August 1981, terrorists from the Left Red Army Faction conducted a bomb attack on the base. 20 people were injured (mainly Americans), any of them hard. During this time, US military facilities in western Germany were repeatedly targeted by attacks by leftist extremists.
An air show was held in Ramstein in August 1988. erstwhile the planes of the Italian aerobatic squad collided in the air, 1 of the burning aircraft fell on a crowd of spectators. 35 people died at the scene, another 35 died later due to injuries, and hundreds of others were injured. It was 1 of the biggest plane crashes in history. Since then, no air shows have been held in Ramstein.
Trump's controversial decision
While serving as president of the United States Barack Obama stayed respective times at Ramstein Base. Donald Trump did the same as president in 2018 during a return flight from a military visit to Iraq.
In the summertime of 2020 Trump announced the decision to massively reduce US troops stationed in Germany. This was justified by the fact that Germany did not pay adequate to defend itself. erstwhile U.S. military commander-in-chief in Europe, General Ben Hodges, then powerfully criticized these plans. In an interview with “Der Spiegel” magazine, he spoke of “a colossal error” and added that the decision “shows that the president did not realize the importance of American troops stationed in Germany for the safety of America.”
Trump's decision was revoked a fewer months later after Joe Biden took over. But if Donald Trump is re-elected president of the United States, the presence of US troops in Germany, and thus the crucial function of Ramstein Air Base, may again be called into question.
