US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Europe remains Washington's "partner of first resort," even as the United States marks a strategic pivot to Asia.
In a speech in Munich, Germany, which was laden with assurances for Europe, Mrs Clinton pledged cooperative efforts for a united and secure Europe, mutual economic recovery, an "agile" security alliance, and a democratic Middle East.
The chief US diplomat also urged her European partners at the Munich Security Conference to work together in meeting "the opportunities that lie ahead" in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Taken together, all of these elements point to a larger, enduring truth: when Americans envision the future, we see Europe as our essential partner," Mrs Clinton told the international conference in the Bavarian city.
"I've heard all the talk about where Europe fits into America's global outlook. I've heard some of the doubts expressed. But the reality couldn't be clearer: Europe is America's partner of first resort," she stressed.
Forced to make tough choices in tight budgetary times, the US is shifting its military priorities to Asia and the Middle East - even if it has pulled its troops out of Iraq and begins a drawdown in Afghanistan.
Reducing its troop presence in Europe, Washington sees the looming strategic challenge in the Asia-Pacific region as a newly powerful and assertive China rattles US allies in the region.
In opening the conference yesterday, German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Europe should not fear a renewed US focus on Asia and must increasingly look after its own backyard militarily without its historical ally.
US defence chief Leon Panetta said his country will renew its commitment to Europe's security by contributing to a NATO force but added that Europeans must also invest in their own defence.
"The peace and prosperity of Europe is critically important to the US," Mr Panetta said in a speech.
"Europe remains our security partner of choice for military operations and diplomacy around the world - as we saw in Libya last year, and as we see in Afghanistan every day," he said.
"We are therefore deeply committed to strengthening transatlantic security partnerships and institutions, including NATO," he said.
While the US military plans to withdraw two of its four army brigades stationed in Europe in 2014, Mr Panetta announced that a US-based brigade will contribute to the NATO Response Force, a 13,000-strong unit created in 2002.
The US military will also rotate a battalion-sized task force to Germany to take part in exercises and training.
