US set to withdraw 11,900 soldiers based in Germany
THE US will slash its military presence in Germany by 11,900 troops in what the Pentagon on Wednesday called a “strategic” repositioning, but President Donald Trump said was to punish Berlin for its weak defence spending.
US defence secretary Mark Esper said that the Pentagon will be sending home about 6,400 of its military personnel in Germany, and move nearly 5,600 to other NATO countries, including Italy and Belgium.
Some could also be relocated to Poland and the Baltic countries if Washington can reach agreements with them, he said.
The move, which will cost the US government several billion dollars, will cut the presence of US military personnel in Germany to around 24,000.
Esper stressed that the action is part of his broader plan to reposition US military forces globally to better address the key threats from Russia and China.
He said: “The repositioning of our forces in Europe constitutes a major strategic and positive shif t.
“These changes will unquestionably achieve the core principles of enhancing US and NATO deterrence of Russia; strengthening NATO; reassuring allies; and, improving US strategic flexibility.”
But at the White House, Trump told reporters that Germany has not paid its fair share for the defence of Europe.
He said: “We don’t want to be the suckers anymore . . . We’re protecting Germany, so we’re reducing the force because they’re not paying the bills.”
In moves that could begin within weeks, some US command operations currently in Germany will be moved to Belgium and Italy.
The Pentagon also will move an F-16 fighter squadron from Germany to Italy, to help protect NATO’s southeastern flank near the Black Sea.
The cit y of St ut tga r t wi l l lose the US European Command headquarters and Specia l Operat ions Command Europe to Belgium.
Some Stryker armoured assets will be rotated in southeastern Europe, while another command unit and US troops could be rotated into Poland, if Warsaw signs a cooperation agreement crafted by Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda in June.
Meanwhile, the planned relocation of 2,500 US air force personnel from Britain to Germany has been cancelled.
The German government was cautious in its reaction to the move, expected since June.
The foreign and defence ministries said in a joint statement: “The federal government is taking note of this decision and will closely coordinate for a further implementation with the [German] federal states, the US government and within NATO.”
German ambassador to the US Emily Haber tweeted: “We have been and are proud to host US troops.”
NATO secretary-general Jens
St o l t e n b e r g s a i d E s p e r’s announcement “underlines the continued commitment by the United States to NATO and European security.
“As we face a more unpredictable world, we are stronger and safer when we stand together,” he said.
But ot hers c r it ic i sed t he strategic va lue and justif ication for t he move.
US Democratic Senator Jack Reed said: “This is a self-inflicted wound by President Trump against American interests.”
The moves “lack a strategic rationale, weaken our allies’ confidence in the reliability of US defence commitments, and serve to embolden [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s efforts to divide the alliance”, he said.