The “Politico” news outlet reported on the 28th, citing anonymous NATO officials, that the United States might withdraw up to 30% of its military forces from Europe, marking a significant deployment adjustment.
“Politico” stated that the Pentagon’s report on this matter is still in the making. The U.S. military presence in Germany is a pillar of European defense, but Germany has no certainty about the final version of the report or the pace at which any changes will be made.
Ellen Mattel, a senior researcher on security policy at the German Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed, “If there is a withdrawal, regardless of how much or whether it happens, the key is to proceed in an orderly and coordinated manner, rather than leaving European allies caught off guard.”
Since President Trump took office, the traditional alliance relationship between the United States and its European allies has been greatly impacted. According to “Defense News” on May 12th, as the highest-ranking military official in NATO and the Chairman of the NATO Military Commission, Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo de la Gónera warned that although there are currently no signs indicating that the United States will withdraw troops committed to participating in NATO’s defense plan and relocate them to the Indo-Pacific region, “NATO must be prepared for the possibility that the United States may shift its focus away from Europe.”