Shafaqna Pakistan: America’s NATO allies on Monday reacted cautiously to a US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, saying it underscored the need for Europe to urgently strengthen its own security.
US President Donald Trump further raised concerns about the future of the alliance after announcing a reduction of Washington’s largest troop presence in Europe, following tensions with Berlin linked to the Iran conflict.
However, speaking at a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Yerevan, Armenia, European leaders and Canada’s Mark Carney said they were prepared to take on greater responsibility for regional security.
“Europeans are taking their destiny into their own hands, increasing their defence and security spending, and building their own common solutions,” said France’s President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump has vowed to slash US troop numbers in Europe during both his White House terms, saying he wants the continent to take on greater responsibility for its defence rather than depending on Washington.
Faced with Trump’s wavering commitment and Russia’s assault on Ukraine, America’s NATO allies have been surging security and defence investments. Last year they pledged to boost national defence spending to five percent of GDP, under pressure from Washington.
But divisions over the Iran war seem to have precipitated events — although German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has insisted there was “no connection” between the troop cuts and his recent row with Trump over the conflict.
“There has been a talk about withdrawal US troops for a long time from Europe,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters in Yerevan. “But of course, the timing of this announcement comes as a surprise.”
“It shows that we have to really strengthen the European pillar in NATO, and we have to really do more,” Kallas said, while stressing that “American troops are not in Europe only for protecting European interests, but also American interests”.
The Pentagon said last week the 5,000-troop reduction would take place within the next year. Trump has told reporters, without elaborating, that cuts would go “a lot further”.
Source: Dunya News
