I meant that Germany relies on the US for defense. Not that we directly pay you to defend yourselves. "We even pay a percentage (~10%) of the construction cost

I meant that Germany relies on the US for defense. Not that we directly pay you to defend yourselves. "We even pay a percentage (~10%) of the construction cost of your bases" Because that base is the cost of the US military. I think you are focusing too much on the US assets in Germany as the deterrent.