BRUSSELS: The US will pull more troops from Europe but the process will stretch over years to give allies time to develop capabilities to replace them, NATO’s top commander said on Tuesday.
US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich was speaking after decisions by US President Donald Trump’s administration to withdraw some 5,000 troops from Germany and cancel deployment of long-range Tomahawk missiles.
European officials were surprised by the timing of the troop announcement and by US officials linking it to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s criticism of the US strategy in the Iran war.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of NATO military chiefs in Brussels, Grynkewich said the decision was the only such move he was aware of “in the near-term” and would not affect the alliance’s ability to execute its defense plans.
European governments say they have heeded Trump’s call to spend more on defense and take more responsibility for the continent’s security. But they fear a hasty withdrawal of US troops and weapons could leave Europe vulnerable to a military attack from Russia, although Moscow denies any such intention.
