Four German state leaders, from Bravia, Hesse, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate, urged members of the United States (US) Congress to obstruct the decision by the Trump administration to withdraw American troops from Germany. The appeal was made to thirteen members of the American Congress, which included Mitt Romney and Jim Inhofe.
The statement, which was presented in the form of a letter, called American troops in Germany “the backbone of US presence in Europe and NATO’S ability to act.” Further, it said: “We therefore ask you to support us as we strive not to sever the bond of friendship but to strengthen it, and to secure the US presence in Germany and Europe in the future.”
In early June, US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to withdraw almost 9,500 troops from Germany, reducing the number of soldiers stationed in the country from 34,500 to 25,000. A Trump administration official said that while some troops would return to the US, others would be deployed in Poland and “other allied countries”. Trump said that the decision was made in pursuance of Germany’s failure to spend even 2% of the GDP on defence. He said, “We’re protecting Germany, and they’re delinquent. That doesn’t make sense.” Further, he said, “Until they pay, we’re removing our soldiers, a number of our soldiers.”
Trump’s announcement has generated both concern and criticism from Germany. Primarily, commentators are concerned about the decision being unilateral, as it was done without any consultation with Germany. When the decision was first announced, Peter Beyer, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s transatlantic coordinator, said, “This is completely unacceptable, especially since nobody in Washington thought about informing its Nato ally Germany in advance.”
Further, the decision also sparked fears about its impact on Europe’s NATO-led defence, which will be left vulnerable as a result of American withdrawal. The US accounts for 70% of NATO’s defence spending and contributes more troops than any other country. This is explicitly alarming in light of the growing military ambitions of the Russian leader, Putin, with Russia’s relations with the West hitting an all-time low since the cold-war. In the past, US troops have played an essential role in deterring Russian aggression in the region.
NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, also warned that the presence of American troops in Europe was not only essential for the military interests of the bloc, but also that of the US. He said, “Peace and stability in Europe add to the security of North America.” The vast majority of US military flights to Iraq or Afghanistan go through an American base in Ramstein, Germany. Similarly, the US military has a hospital in Landstuhl to treat combat injuries for soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, US Africa Command military missions are ‘coordinated’ from Stuttgart. Most importantly, however, US troops deter Russian aggression in the region.
German State Leaders Urge US Congressmen to Block Decision to Withdraw American Troops
Earlier in June, Trump announced the decision to withdraw 9,500 troops from Germany.
July 21, 2020
Source: Military Times