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World
NATO spokesperson Alison Hart said on Saturday that the alliance is communicating with the United States to understand the details of its decision to reduce US troops in Germany.
NATO spokesperson Alison Hart said on Saturday that the alliance is communicating with the United States to understand the details of its decision to reduce US troops in Germany.
Hart wrote on the "X" platform: "We are working with the United States to understand the details of its decision regarding the status of its forces in Germany."
She added: "This decision underscores the need for Europe to continue investing more in defense and to bear a greater share of responsibility for our common security, which we have already seen progress on since allies agreed to invest 5% of GDP at the NATO summit held in The Hague last year."
She continued: "We remain confident in our ability to provide deterrence and defense as this shift towards a stronger Europe within a stronger alliance continues."
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said earlier on Saturday, in response to the United States' announcement of withdrawing 5,000 US troops from Germany, that Europeans must take greater responsibility for their security.
Pistorius added: "Germany is on the right track" in this regard, pointing to the expansion of its armed forces "Bundeswehr," increasing and accelerating equipment purchases, and building military infrastructure.
Pistorius estimated the current number of US troops stationed in Germany at "nearly 40,000 soldiers," considering that "the presence of US soldiers in Europe, especially in Germany, serves our interests and the interests of the United States." However, he added that "it was expected that the United States would withdraw its troops from Europe, including Germany."
US President Donald Trump had threatened last week to reduce the number of US troops in Germany, following a dispute with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, regarding the United States' strategy in the Iran war.
Merz stated earlier this week that the United States "did not consult Germany or its allies in Europe" before starting the Iran war, noting that he immediately informed Trump afterward of his "skepticism about the feasibility of this conflict."
On Friday, the Pentagon announced the withdrawal of five thousand troops from Germany, while a Pentagon spokesperson, in statements to "Asharq," indicated that the troop withdrawal is expected to be completed within six to 12 months.
The number of US troops in Germany represents about half of the total US military presence in Europe.
Germany also hosts dozens of US facilities, including the Supreme Command of US Forces in Europe and Africa, and vital military assets, including B-61 nuclear bombs.
A senior Pentagon official, who requested anonymity, told "Reuters" that recent German statements were "inappropriate and unhelpful," adding: "The President is responding correctly to these unconstructive statements."
The official explained that the troop reduction would bring the US military presence in Europe back to near pre-2022 levels, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to an increased US deployment under former President Joe Biden.
