July 29, 2020

US to pull almost 12,000 troops out of Germany

Featuring: Richard Fontaine

Source: Financial Times

Journalists: Katrina Manson, Guy Chazan

The Trump administration is pulling almost 12,000 troops out of Germany in a move set to add to tensions within Nato.

The decision comes after President Donald Trump last month vowed to cap US troops stationed in Germany at 25,000 unless Berlin spent more on defence for the transatlantic security alliance.

Defence secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday said the US would start withdrawing about 11,900 troops “in a matter of weeks”, with about 5,400 relocating elsewhere in Europe and about 6,400 due to head back to the US. About 24,000 US troops will remain in Germany.

Read the full story and more in the Financial Times.

Author

  • Richard Fontaine

    Chief Executive Officer

    Richard Fontaine is the chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). He served as president of CNAS from 2012–19 and as senior fellow from 2009–12...