A plan to pull about 12,000 US troops out of Germany ordered by the Trump administration has been put on hold, the head of US European Command said on Wednesday.
“At this very moment, every single one of those options, they are all on hold. They will all be reexamined from cradle to grave,” Gen. Tod Wolters told reporters. He said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had begun a “very thorough review” of the drawdown.
With the new Biden administration more friendly to NATO and keen to confront Russia, it’s no surprise that a plan to bring troops out of Europe was put on pause, and the chances of the US following through with the drawdown after the review are slim.
There are currently about 34,000 US troops stationed in Germany. President Trump ordered the drawdown partly because he said Germany was not paying enough for its defense.
To sell the drawdown to Congress, Trump administration officials framed it as a repositioning of resources to better confront Russia. As part of Trump’s plan, about half of the troops leaving Germany were set to move west towards Russia’s border.
There is bipartisan opposition to the Germany drawdown in Congress. An amendment was attached to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that blocks funds for the withdrawal until the Pentagon submits an assessment to Congress on how the move impacts US national security.
Hybrid warfare. They will want to expand N.A.T.O. endless expansion.
“There is bipartisan opposition to the Germany drawdown in Congress. An amendment was attached to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that blocks funds for the withdrawal until the Pentagon submits an assessment to Congress on how the move impacts US national security.”
Can’t wait for that “assessment”. How to make the removal of 12,000 troops in Germany a reason that our national security will be threatened. That should take some time since it will have to be the biggest load of bullshit since the beginning of bullshit.
As long as the war on terror AUMF exists, the US will need the airbase in Germany to support it. All trump’s “plan to withdraw” did was to transfer these services within Europe at huge expense, and no policy change.
Terror is a political term.
Yes, by definition. Course, so are laws against “loitering”.
“leaving Germany were set to move west towards Russia’s border.”
Should be east.
The U.S. should of been out of Europe with the demise of the Warsaw Pact.
Where’s my Peace dividend?
No surprise, colossal missed opportunity.