U.S. to cut 12,000 forces in Germany

The United States is cutting back its deployments in Germany by nearly 12,000 troops and shifting some of those forces around the Continent, including relocating some units to Belgium and Italy, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper announced Wednesday.

About 6,400 troops are set to return to the United States. The move is certain to rankle European leaders and anger both Democratic and Republican lawmakers who see the U.S. troop presence on the continent, especially in Germany, as a cornerstone of post-World War II order.

“I am confident that the alliance will be all the better and stronger for it,” Esper told reporters. “We can see some moves begin within weeks.”

The Pentagon’s decision to cut U.S. troops in Germany from roughly 36,000 to about 24,000 is in keeping with President Donald Trump’s “America First” approach and his deep-seated drive to bring home U.S. forces from wars started after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

He has also vigorously demanded that European allies carry more of the burden for their own protection. In particular, he has long criticized Germany for being “delinquent” in meeting its commitment to spend 2% of its gross domestic product on defense. The plan announced by Esper on Wednesday will affect U.S. deployments to Germany more than any other NATO ally.

“This is so clearly a punitive move against Germany that its hard to see any benefit from this,” said Rachel Rizzo, director of programs at the Truman Center for National Policy, who focuses on European security issues. “It really puts future administrations in a bind; it gives them no room to maneuver and will stick in Europeans’ mind well into the future.”

Trump addressed the issue when he spoke to reporters Wednesday, stressing that Germany had not paid its full share for defense under NATO commitments. “Germany is delinquent,” Trump said.

The outlines of the move, reported earlier in June by The Wall Street Journal, blindsided German officials and some U.S. military officials, who have long seen the U.S. presence in Germany as the bedrock of the U.S. commitment to NATO.

Esper said the change was a part of an ongoing review of U.S. troop presence around the world that was “accelerated” by Trump’s announcement to cut forces in Germany. Esper sought to explain to reporters that the move was not a punitive action prompted by the president.

“I’m telling you that this is going to accomplish what the president said with regard to getting us down to a lower number in Europe, and it meets those other objectives I outlined with regard to the strategic piece,” Esper said.

Repositioning the troops will cost “several billion dollars,” he added. The withdrawal and shifting of forces is likely to take months, if not years.

“I am confident that the alliance will be all the better and stronger for it (troop removal from Germany).” — Mark T. Esper, Defense Secretary