The present preoccupation of the Belgian government is with the country's economic and cultural problems. A request to support the deployment of forces would probably be rejected with financial arguments, though Belgium could provide some of the U.S. reinforcement capability. We would propose asking Belgium to form an additional reserve brigade, to make up for the loss of the U.S. divisions in Europe. The Dutch probably could not be counted on to support an operation out of the NATO area, but they could furnish a reserve brigade. Portuguese forces are incapable of conducting operations against a well-equipped enemy outside NATO, though Portugal does have a commando regiment, as well as other units, that could relieve the units of other NATO nations for duty on the continent during wartime, another portion of the offset for the three U.S. divisions.
Turkey has an army of approximately one-half million.
Although there are serious problems with equipment, this country offers an excellent source of manpower for the alliance. An increased military aid program for Turkey and Greece could not only strengthen the southern region, it could do more. We say mobility assets from other nations because of the obvious problem that could be caused within the alliance if the aid also included mobility assets. Article 115 of the German constitution prohibits the employment and deployment of German forces outside the NATO area. There is little likelihood of a change in this basic law very soon, but we still see it necessary for the FRG to do its share in the division of labor.