Signal of an Alliance Reshuffle? Trump Says He Will Cut U.S. Troops in Germany by Far More Than 5,000

The United States of America (the U.S.A.) President Donald Trump has signaled that he will sharply expand the planned reduction of U.S. troops stationed in Germany, raising concerns about the security landscape in Europe. The move suggests cuts beyond the level originally proposed by the Department of Defense and is being interpreted as a sign of an alliance reshuffle.
According to The Associated Press (AP), Trump told reporters in Florida on the 2nd (local time), "We will cut far more than 5,000." He did not explain why the reduction would be made.
Earlier, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) had announced a plan to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany. That would amount to roughly one-seventh of the approximately 36,000 U.S. troops currently stationed there. The withdrawal is expected to take place over six to 12 months. The units involved have not been disclosed. The DoD said the decision was "the result of a thorough review of troop deployments in Europe."
If Trump's remarks lead to additional cuts, major changes to the overall U.S. military posture in Europe would be unavoidable. About 80,000 to 100,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed across Europe.
Concerns were raised immediately in political circles. In a joint statement, Republican Party Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the United States House Committee on Armed Services (HASC), said that withdrawing U.S. troops could send the wrong signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin. They suggested redeploying the troops to Eastern Europe instead of pulling them out. Democrats also strongly objected. Senator Jack Reed, the Democratic Party's ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, "Withdrawing troops while a war is ongoing is a serious mistake," and urged Trump to "immediately reverse this foolish decision."
The Federal Government of Germany took a cautious stance. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told local media that the move was "expected," but added, "Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security. The U.S. troop presence in Germany serves the interests of both sides." The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is closely monitoring the situation, communicating with the U.S. and examining the details of the deployment changes. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said on X that "progress is being made after allies agreed at last year's NATO summit to invest 5% of GDP in defense."
During his first administration, Trump also pushed to cut about 9,500 U.S. troops in Germany, but the plan was never carried out.
km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter