 [YNet] - After more than a year of thinly-veiled threats to start pulling U.S. troops out of Germany unless Berlin increases its defense spending, President Donald Trump appears to be proceeding with a hardball approach, planning to cut the U.S. military contingent by more than 25%.
| “Nothing personal, guys. I made you an offer. You refused.” |
About 34,500 American troops are stationed in Germany - 50,000 including civilian Department of Defense employees - the plan Trump reportedly signed off on last week envisions reducing active-duty personnel to 25,000 by September, with further cuts possible.
But as details of the still-unannounced plan trickle out, there's growing concerns it will do more to harm the U.S.'s own global military readiness and the NATO alliance than punish Germany.
The decision was not discussed with Germany, nor with any other NATO members - additionally, Congress was not officially informed - prompting a letter from 22 Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee urging a rethink.
"The threats posed by Russia have not lessened, and we believe that signs of a weakened U.S. commitment to NATO will encourage further Russian aggression and opportunism," Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas wrote in a letter to Trump with his colleagues. Sen. Jack Reed.
...The suggestion that removing troops will punish Germany, however, overlooks the fact that American troops are no longer primarily there for the country's defense, said retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. Army Europe from 2014 until 2017.
To me it seems that the congressman and the general contradict each other.
...Trump indicated last summer that he was thinking of moving some troops from Germany to Poland, telling Poland's President Andrzej Duda during an Oval Office meeting: "Germany is not living up to what they're supposed to be doing with respect to NATO, and Poland is."
Duda has been trying to woo more American forces, even suggesting Poland would contribute over $2 billion to create a permanent U.S. base, which he said could be named "Fort Trump." In the current plan, at least some Germany-based troops are expected to be shifted to Poland.
Well, at least, the congressman can calm down now. As for the general, betcha the troops will find living in Poland much cheaper - especially the services of the, ahem, seamstresses. 
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