The Pentagon is proceeding with President Donald Trump’s plan to move 12,000 U. S. troops out of Germany – about 6,400 forces will be brought…
The Pentagon is proceeding with President Donald Trump’s plan to move 12,000 U. S. troops out of Germany – about 6,400 forces will be brought home and 5,400 shifted to other countries in Europe, U. S. defense officials said Wednesday.
The move will cost billions of dollars and take years to complete. It has attracted bipartisan congressional opposition, raised concerns among NATO allies and appears to be fueled at least in part by Trump’s displeasure at Germany’s failure to spend more on defense. The Pentagon said the action was part of its plan to strategically « reposition » U. S. forces in Europe to better counter threats from Russia and China.
« We began this process actually several months ago when I gave (U. S. European Command) direction to begin looking at ways to improve our force disposition in NATO, » U. S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday.
« 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 laid out with regard to the strategic piece, » he added, though he did not explain how the Pentagon’s stated objective fits with Trump’s repeated public desire to punish Germany.
« They take advantage of us on trade, and they take advantage of us on the military, » Trump said of Germany on Wednesday, speaking to White House reporters.
« So we’re reducing the force because they’re not paying their bills. It’s very simple.
