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.

NATO’s top military officer says he doesn’t expect any more drawdowns of American troops from Europe — at least not anytime soon — beyond the 5,000 that U.S.

Alexus Grynkewich assured that it would not affect NATO’s defense plans