BOTTOM-UP - AN EVALUATION OF THE NEW AMER ICAN FORCE POSTURE

The future of American defence policy is highly uncertain. Present pla ns and objectives are backed by a force structure whose future credibi lity is by no means secured. Due to a series of mainly domestic factor s the shortcomings of the present budgets and force structure may not be corrected. Further cuts in structure and/or forces levels in Europe are likely in the latter half of the present decade. As a consequence American global influence is likely to decline. The central role of t he US Marine Corps, the main US contributor to Norwegian defence, in t he Regional Strategy implies a decrease in the credibility of NATO's p lans for the reinforcement of Norway in crisis or war.