Russia and Putin · First term · № 61
Ordered nearly 12,000 U.S. troops out of Germany, saying Berlin was 'delinquent'
“So we're reducing the force because they're not paying their bill. It's very simple: They're delinquent.”
- Said
- , South Lawn, White House, remarks to reporters
- Subject
- U.S. troops in Germany
- Type
- NATO and allies
- Topic
- Foreign policy
- Era
- First term
What happened
Trump announced in June 2020 that he would cut U.S. forces in Germany. On July 29 Defense Secretary Mark Esper said almost 12,000 troops, roughly a third of the force, would leave, with nearly 5,600 moving to other NATO countries and about 6,400 returning to the United States. Esper said the plan would enhance deterrence of Russia, while Trump told reporters the same day that the reduction was because Germany had not met NATO's spending target of 2 percent of GDP. Some Republicans in Congress said the withdrawal would be a gift to Russia, RFE/RL reported. Trump had signed sanctions on companies building Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany in December 2019. President Biden said on February 4, 2021 that he was stopping any planned troop withdrawals from Germany.
Sources
- Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure for Midland, Texas
- Defense Secretary Esper Says U.S. Plans To Cut Troops In Germany By A Third
- U.S. To Move Troops From Germany, In Shift That Esper Says Will Strengthen NATO Against Russia
- Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline
- Remarks by President Biden on America's Place in the World