NATO: Withdrawals of American troops in Europe will have “no impact” on defense

The United States’ decision to withdraw some 5,000 troops in Germany will have “no impact” on NATO’s ability to defend itself, its Secretary General Mark Rutte assured Wednesday.

“As for this announcement, the 4,000 to 5,000 (soldiers), these are rotations which have no impact on NATO’s defense plans,” he declared to the press in Brussels.

“We know that adjustments will take place”, but “this will be done gradually and in a structured way”, he assured.

Mr. Rutte also mentioned another announcement that could come at the end of the week concerning the “Force Model”, the “pool” (using NATO terminology) of troops available within the 32 countries of the Alliance, including the United States, likely to be mobilized if needed in less than 180 days.

Several European diplomats in Brussels said they expected the United States to announce a reduction in its available forces, but without giving figures.

“What exactly will the nature of the announcement be? You’ll have to wait a bit. I am not authorized to disclose it, but I think it is exactly what we expected,” Mr. Rutte said when questioned on this point.

“This is the normal course of things. It was therefore to be expected. I think it’s completely normal that this happens like this,” he insisted.

The White House’s decision regarding the withdrawal of troops in Germany took the Allies by surprise, at a time when they were trying to anticipate and coordinate a possible American disengagement in Europe.

“We must therefore expect, over time, a redeployment of American forces as the allies develop their own defense capabilities,” assured Tuesday the supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe (Saceur), the American general Alexus Grynkewich.

The reduction in American troops announced at the beginning of May by the Pentagon will become effective in the “next six to twelve months” and corresponds to approximately 15% of the 36,000 soldiers stationed in Germany, where this presence plays a crucial role for security and the local economy.

Donald Trump made this announcement after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz estimated that “the Americans obviously had no strategy” in Iran and that Tehran was “humiliating” the world’s leading power.

AFP