On Friday, Pentagon Chief and US Secretary of Defence, Mark Esper, paid a visit to Brussels’ NATO headquarters. His visit aimed to “reassure” the US’s NATO allies that any withdrawal of troops would be made following consultations with the Pentagon. Following the visit, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s Secretary-General, said, “I welcome that the US is consulting with allies while making clear that the US commitment to European security remains strong.” Further, on Saturday, Pentagon’s spokesperson said that they would be presenting the White House with several options for American troop movements. These activities come after concern raised by several European defense ministers about the “unpredictability” of American troops’ plans in Europe.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to withdraw almost 9,500 troops from Germany, reducing the number of troops stationed in the country from 34,500 to 25,000. Soon after, Donald Trump criticized Germany for not spending even 2% of its GDP on defense. He has also criticized other European members of the NATO for failing to work towards their promise to expend at least 2% of their GDPs on defense budgets by 2024. 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.” A day after this comment, Stoltenberg said that there was no confirmed timeline or solidified plan on the withdrawal of US troops from Germany. This was taken as an indication that the decision could be reversed if Germany agrees to increase its budget.
Also Read: Trump Withdraws 9,500 Troops from Germany, Experts Foresee Heavy Strategic Costs
However, Esper also echoed Donald Trump’s concern about the insufficiency of Germany’s defense budget. He said, “I continue to urge all of our allies to meet their target goal of 2 percent of GDP. We’ve moved a good distance here in the last few years but there’s much, much more we need to do to ensure our collective security.”
Acknowledging this, in a press briefing on Friday, Angela Merkel said, “We in Germany know that we have to spend more on defense; we have achieved considerable increases in recent years, and we will continue on that path to enhance our military capabilities.” However, she highlighted the importance of NATO troops for the security interests of not only Germany and Europe, but also the US.
Jens Stoltenberg has also warned that the presence of American troops in Europe is 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. Further, Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Germany has raised eyebrows amongst several commentators, with some considering it as a “gift to Russia”, as US troops primarily deter Russian aggression in the region.
Also Read: NATO Chief Calls on Germany to Increase its Role as a Leader in NATO
Image Source: Foreign Policy