German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on May 2 (local time) that the plan to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany should become a driving force for Europe to strengthen its own defense capabilities, in the context of transatlantic relations facing great pressure.
Previously, the Pentagon announced a plan to reduce forces in Germany, where nearly 40,000 US troops are currently stationed, and is expected to be completed within 6 to 12 months. US President Donald Trump said the reduction may be even larger than the 5,000.
Mr. Pistorius said this move was predicted, and emphasized that Europe needs to take on more responsibility for security. Germany is promoting military expansion, accelerating defense procurement and building military infrastructure.
However, Washington's decision has faced concerns from Republican senators. Senator Roger Wicker and US Congressman Mike Rogers warned that reducing military presence could weaken deterrence capabilities. The two argue that US forces should be deployed to eastern Europe instead of withdrawing from the region.
This plan also includes the cancellation of the deployment of a Tomahawk long-range missile battalion in Germany, which Berlin considers an important deterrent factor for Russia. Some experts believe that long-range attack capability is an area where the US is dominating in NATO, so the cancellation of this plan is more meaningful than reducing troops.
NATO said it is working with the US to clarify the details of the decision. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed concern about the impact on the alliance's eastern flank, in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The troop withdrawal move takes place in the context of increasing tensions between the US and Europe due to disagreements over the Iran war and trade issues. Some opinions suggest that this may be a political response in the context of Mr. Trump's domestic and international pressure.
