The North Atlantic Alliance is commiserating with the United States over its decision to reduce its contingent in Germany, NATO spokeswoman Alison Garth said on 2 May.
“We are working with the United States to understand the details of their decision to deploy troops in Germany,” she said on social media X.
The spokeswoman assessed that the change underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defence and take more responsibility for its own security. Garth recalled that at the NATO summit in The Hague last year, the allies had already agreed to invest 5% of GDP in defence.
“We remain confident in our ability to deliver our deterrence and defence capabilities as this transition to a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO continues,” she added.
According to Reuters, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius commented on the US decision, also saying that Europe must take more responsibility for its own security.
“Germany is on the right track,” he said, referring to the expansion of the German armed forces and defence production.
The day before, US publication The Hill reported that US President Donald Trump had ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US military personnel from Germany.
Trump has had a dead man’s argument in recent days after the German chancellor said the Iranians were humiliating the US during negotiations to end the war.
On 28 April, the US president responded that Merz didn’t know what he was talking about, And on 29 April, Trump said Washington was “studying and considering” a possible drawdown of US troops in Germany.