NATO officials were not informed in advance about the decision of American President Donald Trump to withdraw 5,000 soldiers from Germany in the next 6-12 months.
NATO officials found out on Friday, along with the announcement made by the Pentagon, about the U.S.’s intention to withdraw some of the troops stationed in Germany, sources familiar with the situation told Euronews.
As a result, questions have arisen within the NATO leadership regarding logistics, such as where and how the troops will be withdrawn. Additionally, it is unclear how this decision will affect the overall posture of the defense alliance, the sources said.
Nobody knows anything
According to sources, the announcement that caught NATO's top command off guard lacks details. Washington did not specify whether the troops leaving Germany come from a rotation that will not be replenished, whether it's an air squadron, or if the troops are part of the central unit.
"We don't know which forces these are, is it the core of a brigade? An air squadron? There are no details because Trump simply invented this number," said former U.S. ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder, to the television station.
"There are no details because Trump simply conjured up this number," said another American source.
Military strategists downplay the role that the 5,000 American soldiers (or more) will have on Europe's security position, given the evolving nature of warfare, which relies less on soldiers and more on technology and advanced weaponry.
Moreover, several European allies, especially Germany, have significantly strengthened their own defenses in the past year. NATO countries are preparing for a possible revision of the presence of American troops, which they knew could happen at any time.
However, officials in the Alliance's leadership expected to be consulted before any such decision that would directly impact European security and NATO territory.
Trump invented a number to punish Merz
The view among NATO capitals is that there should be an orderly and collaborative disengagement of American forces, where allies, fully informed of the situation, would avoid serious disruptions to NATO's deterrent capabilities.
Trump made the announcement after being offended by comments made by German Chancellor Frederick Merz, who stated a few days earlier that Iran "humiliates" the United States and that Washington entered into a poorly conceived war strategy.
"5,000 is a significant number that Trump chose out of thin air because he wanted to do something demonstrative in his confrontation with Merz," said an American source to Euronews.
Trump first posted a statement Wednesday evening after Merz's remarks, stating that the Pentagon is considering reducing the U.S. presence in Germany. A few hours later, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told Fox News that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth "ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 soldiers from Germany."
U.S. President revisited the issue on Saturday and stated that the withdrawal of troops from Germany will exceed the initially announced number of 5,000 soldiers. However, he did not provide details.
The White House was also furious with European allies for rejecting Trump's calls to join the war in Iran. Trump targeted some of them but also criticized NATO, labeling the alliance a "paper tiger."
"Let's just say there was very little time between Trump's first post saying he was 'studying' how to withdraw troops after the conflict with Merz and then the sudden announcement," said another NATO source to Euronews.
Meanwhile, Allison Hart, spokesperson for NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, issued a statement saying, "We are working with the U.S. to understand the details. This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to invest more in defense and take on a greater share of responsibility for our common security."
What the White House Leader Doesn't Understand
American troops have been heavily integrated in Germany since the Cold War, with a deployment of over 36,000 active military personnel today. Their presence is considered not only a legacy of the Cold War but also a significant projection of U.S. power globally.
This is an issue that Daalder says the Trump administration has overlooked. The former ambassador says Trump loses the big picture in his attempt to penalize European allies for not joining the war in Iran.
"He thinks he can punish allies by withdrawing troops, but he harms America's interests. He just demonstrates that he doesn't understand how America's interests are served. He believes we have troops in Europe solely to do others a favor," Daalder said about the U.S. President.
"The conclusion is that Europe is no longer first, second, third, or even fourth on the U.S.'s list of priorities," he added.
T.D.