Germany: US troop reduction could harm NATO security

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


David Rising and Zeke Miller, Associated Press
Updated 12:55 pm CDT, Monday, June 8, 2020

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s defense minister suggested Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported plans to withdraw more than a quarter of American troops out of Germany could weaken not only the NATO alliance but the U.S. itself.

Trump is said to have has signed off on a plan to reduce the total of troops stationed in Germany from 34,500 to no more than 25,000, according to reports by The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, but German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told reporters that Berlin hasn't yet been informed of any such move.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters, confirmed to The Associated Press that there are plans to move troops, saying some could go to Poland while others could go elsewhere.

The decision is part of the president's and Department of Defense efforts to review combatant commands around the globe, the official said.


Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Germany-US-troop-withdrawal-could-harm-NATO-15324238.php

[Normanart]

1. Isn't that the point?

To weaken NATO is a kiss on the butt cheek of Putin.

[lagomorph777]

11. Exactly the point. More like rimming Vlad.

[Igel]

12. Because Putin wants US troops closer to the Suwalski Gap.

I mean, it's like claiming Trump would love have a bunch of the People's Army stationed in Coahuila.

[ripcord]

14. I noticed no one said how this would weaken NATO

The same number of troops will still be stationed in Europe but they will be closer to Russia and better positioned to defend NATO countries.

[BigOleDummy]

15. Once again you miss the point

Our troops are NOT there to fight, they are there to DETER. How is putting them CLOSER to Russia going to accomplice that? Nothing like prodding the bear to make him peaceful, huh?

[ripcord]

21. So when we had troops in West Germany

And the USSR's control went right to the border of East Germany I guess we were prodding the bear also. As long as NATO troops stay in NATO counties there is nothing to worry about. This is just Germany crying because they are losing the money 9500 troops and 20,000 dependents spend and nothing more.

[BigOleDummy]

26. Man....

.... You really hate Germans and/or NATO huh? East Germany was there in the first place as a buffer for the USSR. It wasn't "Russia" it was a buffer so in case of aggression (from either side but primarily from NATO because as we all know, well most of us, as the USSR was famously paranoid), GERMANS would die first and not Russians. And any country who has to rely on 29,500 people for their economy to work? ....That doesn't make any sense at all, think about what you are saying.


Postwar : A History of Europe since 1945 by Tony Judt is something you may want to read at some point.

[ripcord]

27. And now the Poles are in that position.

They are the ones who need the deterrent because if Russia does anything they will go though Poland. Germany is no longer a buffer state, they have plenty of buffer between them and Russia, there is absolutely no military reason to keep large numbers of troops in Germany.

[Turbineguy]

2. Isn't that the whole point?

Trump needs to do more than just harm the U.S. to earn his funk hole in Russia.

[TheFourthMind]

3. "The decision is part of the president's...." Donald Trump can't spell the word decision. n/t

[ripcord]

4. I stand with President Obama in calling on the EU members to meet their obligations under NATO

It is strange that everyone expects the U.S. to go over and above their treaty obligations, like keeping troops in Germany, but the majority of the E.U. members aren't meeting their minimum obligations under the treaty. If they were so concerned about Europe's safety they would meet the 2% of their GDP for military spending required under the treaty.

“If we’ve got collective defense, it means that everybody’s got to chip in, and I have had some concerns about a diminished level of defense spending among some of our partners in NATO. Not all, but many." Barack Obama

[scarletwoman]

5. It's a twofer, isn't it? Weaken NATO & thumb his nose at Angela Merkel in retaliation for her saying

"nein" to the idea of including Russia in the G7.

[NCjack]

6. Sorry. Putin made him do it. nt

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. If troops are being moved from Germany to Poland, does that weaken NATO?

Plus, the number of troops should depend on the threat. Is Russia the threat that the Soviet Union used to be? It's no longer Communism, it's Kleptonism. Yes, they can bully Ukraine, or Estonia, but Germany?

[ripcord]

9. Putting troops closer to the Russian threat strengthens NATO

But Germany wants those 9500 troops spending their pay in Germany not Poland, it has nothing to do with defense.

[Lonestarblue]

8. It's probably Trump getting even with Merkel for saying she would not attend G7 in person.

Moving some troops out of Germany reduces the amount of money spent there, while moving the troops to Poland rewards its hardline government.

[samsingh]

10. that might be the driver here for the change

[kimbutgar]

13. Something tells me the military would do this very slowly.....stretching it out to the election

Then when he loses not withdrawal the troops and tell him to F off.

[BigOleDummy]

16. Seems to me that

More than a few in here don't understand WHY we are there. Its NOT to fight a war. Its not to prop up Germany's economy, they seem to doing quite well on that front. Its to DETER aggression. Its to show unity and fidelity to our allies. Come on now do you REALLY think that 25,000 or 34,500 US troops are going to stop Russia if they decided to attack? Russia has more combat latrine diggers than that for christs sake.

We referred to ourselves as dead men driving in case a shooting war started while we were there when I served in the Army in Germany in the mid to late 70's. Wondered if we would have the time to write our loved ones before we died.

[Skittles]

19. ....

https://www.wsj.com/articles/retreat-from-germany-11591566310

[Skittles]

17. what Putin wants, Putin gets

from the same traitor who thinks KNEELING is unpatriotic

[Puppyjive]

18. DOD contractors

It's not the troops that are bleeding the DOD, it's the contactors. That is where the cuts need to be made.

[Raven]

20. Why isn't this a major election issue? n/t

[Demonmogirl]

22. I feel like he's been building to this

He wants to destroy everything the US has built.

[Steelrolled]

23. What BS.

We have been in post-war Germany for 75 years. How long is long enough? Europe has no shortage of weapons manufacturers (particularly France and UK). I think they can handle it.

[friend of m and j]

24. with out naming them

I think we may have several Russian bots posting here.