According to the author, President Mikhail Gorbachev’s new policy does not appear to have been based on a “grand design” for Europe, at least initially, but emerged incrementally as the Soviet Union adjusted to the rapid turn of event. Although he did not ignore the United State, Gorbachev’s early pronouncements indicated that he intended to place greater importance on Western Europe in his new foreign policy. However, this is not to suggest that he was adopting a “Europe first” strategy. Clearly his highest priority was to obtain an accommodation with the United State. Furthermore, Gorbachev does not wish to see the United State withdraw from Europe. He sees the presence of American troops in Europe as a factor of stability, and has stressed that the United State has an important place in the “European home”. A reunified Germany is one reason why Soviet want to keep the United States involved in Europe; the United States would remain an important constraint on Germany’s freedom of action, especially regarding nuclear weapons.