Trump’s German troop withdrawal will hurt America

Tensions between Germany and the United States have increased considerably since Donald Trump became president. Trump has repeatedly criticised Berlin for a variety of things, most vocally accusing the German government of failing to pay its way on defence. Trump has said that Europe’s Nato members, including Germany, should no longer rely so heavily on the US to shoulder the costs of maintaining the alliance. The debate has focused on the target agreed by all alliance members that defence spending should reach 2 per cent of each country’s GDP by 2024. Germany’s military expenditure equalled 1.4 per cent of its GDP in 2019.

Now, without any advance notice, Trump has ratcheted up tensions with Germany, by reportedly approving a plan to withdraw 9,500 American troops from bases in Germany by September. Under a memorandum signed by White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien, the US troop presence in Germany will be reduced from 34,500 to 25,000 service members who are permanently assigned in the country.