Trump’s call to slash US forces in Germany shocks Pentagon - Politico
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump's statement about possibly withdrawing some US troops from Germany has shocked Pentagon officials. They wondered whether he actually intends to follow through on his threats this time, according to Politico.
According to three Pentagon officials, Trump's social media post was the first time many had heard about a potential new attempt to withdraw hundreds, if not thousands, of US soldiers from Germany.
"The Pentagon was not expecting it and has not been planning any kind of drawdown. But we have to take him seriously because he was serious about it during his first administration," said an aide to a member of Congress.
This specifically refers to Trump's July 2020 order to withdraw 12,000 American soldiers from Germany, which was never implemented.
Politico added that although Trump's previous threats were unsuccessful, during his second term, he has intensified his anti-European rhetoric, moving from threats to leave NATO over allies' refusal to join the war with Iran to warnings that he might seize Greenland.
What preceded it
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump stated on social media that Washington is considering reducing the American military contingent in Germany. He did not provide details on the scale, but said a decision on this matter would be made soon.
Additionally, on Friday, during a press interaction at the White House, he said that US troop reductions could also take place in Italy and Spain.
