US to close 14 military bases in Europe

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has confirmed that the United States plans to close 14 military bases in Europe, allowing the Pentagon to save annually up to $500 million.

"As of today, there are more than 60,000 U.S. servicemen in Europe. Most of them serve in Germany, Italy and Britain," Hagel said, BBC Russian service reported on Thursday.

"The closure of the European bases is a part of a larger plan to revise the military spending of the Pentagon," he said.

"It is planned that the United States will reduce its presence in Europe to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.”