The U.S. military base in Stuttgart occupies a vast area of land. Located in the state of Baden-Württemberg—Germany’s economic power house—the base is crucial for the Pentagon’s strategic and global reach.
This is because Stuttgart is the headquarters for the U.S. European Command. From there, it coordinates the Pentagon’s military forces across fifty-one NATO and non-NATO countries.
As if that wasn’t enough, under the command, apart from the U.S. Army Europe, is the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa. And like Ramstein, another major U.S. military base in Germany, Stuttgart provides immensely important logistical and training facilities for America’s operations in Africa and in Iraq and Afghanistan.
So when U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he was going to withdraw up to 10,000 troops from Germany, without going into any detail, it caught the Pentagon and the State Department off guard—not to mention their German counterparts or NATO’s top brass. None were apparently informed of the decision.
No doubt Russia will be pleased with such news since Trump’s announcement could fuel anti-American and anti-NATO sentiment in Germany. The opposition Left party has repeatedly called for all American troops to leave Germany.
But America’s allies in Europe and in Africa should be worried. Using troop reductions abroad to score political points at home damages America’s strategic and global interests. It also has the potential for weakening NATO solidarity.
In an extraordinary, damning statement directed at Germany, Trump said the country was delinquent.
“We’re protecting Germany and they’re delinquent. That doesn’t make sense,” Trump said at the White House. “We are going to bring down the count to 25,000 soldiers,” he continued, adding that the deployment of troops comes at “a tremendous cost to the United States.”
The U.S. president said Germany was one of the only countries that had not paid its dues to NATO, primarily by failing to spend 2 percent of its GDP on defense. The last time statistics on NATO defense expenditure were published, eighteen other NATO countries hadn’t met that target, which was agreed in 2014 at the summit in Wales.
German officials are by now accustomed to Trump’s tirades against their country. They tend not to rise to the bait. When German Chancellor Angela Merkel was recently asked about her relationship with Trump—not that there is any kind of chemistry between them—she diplomatically replied that she has to deal with every American president.
Germany’s defense minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is not known to mince her words, said that “NATO is not a trade organization, and security is not a commodity.”
“NATO is founded on solidarity, on trust. And it is based on common values and common interests,” she told an audience at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. She did admit that it was a “bit of an agitated time” for German-U.S. relations. That’s putting it mildly.
Trump’s latest tirade against Germany is linked to Merkel’s unwavering support for Nord Stream 2. This gas pipeline will bring gas directly from Russia via the Baltic Sea to Germany. It will also make Germany even more dependent on Russian gas. Trump has won bipartisan support to impose U.S. sanctions on those companies involved in the project, which is headed by Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom.
He will undoubtedly continue to win praise from Poland and the Baltic states for criticizing Nord Stream 2. But linking security, in this case troop reductions, to German commercial and trade issues is not in the interests of any NATO country, including the United States.
Emily Haber, Germany’s ambassador to Washington, nailed it down when she was asked about the troop reductions during a virtual discussion hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations: “U.S. troops . . . are not there to defend Germany. They are there to defend the transatlantic security. . . . They are also there to project American power in Africa, in Asia,” she said.
The Stuttgart military base, for instance, gives backup to U.S. troops in Nigeria and provides support for French military operations in Mali.
Indeed, NATO should have used the opportunity to spell out the role of American troops based not only in Germany but in other NATO countries. It’s not only about America defending Europe. It’s about Europe providing an infrastructure for America’s global military operations.
Some NATO countries, notably Poland, will try to profit from any troop reductions in Germany. The hope of the governing Law and Justice party is that the United States will redeploy some of them to Poland. But Poland can in no way replace or replicate the Stuttgart and Ramstein bases. These have been built up over the years as vital strategic hubs for the Pentagon.
Germany and its NATO allies could choose to sit out Trump’s threats until the U.S. presidential election in November 2020 in the hope of a change of guard in the White House. But this is not the time to wage bets. Nor, when it comes to military issues, is it the time for NATO’s European members to rail against Trump. They don’t have the leverage.
Comments(14)
Yes, indeed President Trump said Monday that he is ordering a major reduction in troop strength in Germany, from around 34,500 personnel down to 25,000. But what is worse is that if this happens and Trump is not reelected, Biden will likely make a brave announcement that he will restore maybe 2,000 of those troops back to Germany and NATO will praise him. The US will have to reallocate expenses in the military budget, and the Pacific conflict with China will be the priority for the US military in the future. I would say there is consensus that China is the greatest threat to the USA currently. The reality is Europe is going to be forced to rapidly increase its defense expenditures going above the 2% of GDP level no matter the President of the USA or accept domination from Russia assuming Putin’s economy does not collapse.
Absolutely pedagogical and forceful, there is no better way to address the European postmodern elite who continue to enjoy their pleasurable orgy while the Pentagon pays for these parasites ... All my respects to you and to the US Army; and of course, all my contempt for the demagogues in Brussels and Germany who have chosen Donald Trump, President of the United States, as the "universal demon" when the European Union is rotten and is simply Sodom and Gomorrah with geopolitical ambitions. Respectful greetings to the "retired" warrior who continues to fight to the last of his days. It is an honor to read your texts.
The only damage is Merkel's inability to fund Germany's 2% to NATO as well as having a surplus she used to fund NORDSTREAM II . Germany has had a free ride on the backs of American Taxpayers. Time to stop it. As for Europe why not just move all U.S. Forces from Germany into Poland? They want us. Germany had a poll about two years ago that showed 2/3 Germans do not believe in going to war to support a fellow NATO member under Article 5. With "friends" like Germany who needs enemies?
If the u.s. is allowed to have troops inside of Germany why isn't Russia? Think about it.
Let’s just say that Trump is dumb.
I stopped reading when i read that Trump's action was "to score political points at home", which indicated that the writer was more interested in making hits against Trump rather than having a serious discussion about American troop deployment in Europe. As if Americans care whether the level is 80,000 or 20,000, they don't. His obvious intention was to punish Merkel and Germany for not complying with his wish to see Germany up the ante on their defense spending. She obviously does not agree with the "America first" policy of the Trump administration, which is fine... but maybe she could hide her Trump derangement syndrome when trying to write an objective analysis of American politicans.
NATO has become an anachronism of a second cold war and ever increasing global nuclear modernization. Germany appears to value profits before anything else. Why else would they find it impossible to reach the 2% goal for military expenditures? The American working class taxpayer is sick and tired (literally) of being lectured to by a country (Germany) that is perfectly willing to criticize Washington policy toward NATO, while engaging in acts of overt hypocrisy. Russia can't be the enemy and an important trading partner with Berlin at the same time. This contradictory stance will continue to drive Moscow closer toward Beijing and cause greater geopolitical instability. In our time of Western expansion eastward, Russia and NATO are simply incompatible. The American people are searching for a new role in foreign security affairs other than European, Middle Eastern and Pacific hegemony. As wages stagnate and the US wealth gap soars, American workers find being the "world's policeman" untenable. This is true on the Biden Left and the Trump Right. November will not be an answer to Germany's problems with Washington. In fact, the economic crisis caused by Covid 19 is just beginning and will have a huge impact over the course of the next four years. Biden's eight years as VP under Obama will be intensely scrutinized without a rapid reinstitution of the pre-pandemic Trump years' type growth. This will make Biden's liberal policy preferences quite difficult in the face of economic stagnation. The Obama economic failure of anemic growth will burden Biden, as workers compare and contrast their unemployment with the Trump recovery. Pressure for deregulation from the business class cannot be balanced with the regulatory aspirations of those forces on the Left. Meanwhile, Biden's age likely means that the prospect of a second term presidency is slim. This realization of a shortened administration, will make Biden something of a lame duck. Without setting a wholly new course for US foreign policy, it is highly doubtful -- in such a restricted economic environment -- that the American people will want to continue to subsidize such a wealthy country as Germany. It is high time for all of Europe to finally come to terms with each other and specifically Russia. Politics as usual is simply not an option. In the face of global climate change, the youth of the world demand new answers. Peace in Europe is what is needed. Hopefully, a new architecture of security can develop.
As much as I agree with you Judy on the substance you present and the opinions you have given, somehow this move might not be as bad for America if it does move east into Poland. As Poland has a greater fear of The Russian bear and still does not trust the Germans also and has good reason history has the facts on this. The Germans definately have been found wanting on defence spending, but other European countries notably France the UK and Poland do not wish to see Germany ever again become the dominant country again on defence, possibly only equal footing the to France or the UK for balance of European powers. In fact the eastern EU states are likely very wary of both Russia and Germany they play both sides like Orban does. America has weakened itself in the EU countries due to its warnings to all of them to increase there contributions and trade spats with them. Most of these the US has good reason to feel agrieved on as the EU has definately taken advantage of America's defence might and trade liberalisation, Germany has to wake up and improve its defence spending this will spur German neighbour countries to do likewise due to the fear of both Russian and German domination. So possibly the US may get its wish for EU countries in particular to step up and fill any defence viod on there own. America will look after its own interests first the EU has been using and taking advantage of the Americans and they know it. Its been a long time since WW2 and Nato's genesis, I think a new compact with the EU countries is long overdue, and now Great Britain one of the few who have paid there way and took their coats off when America needed them has left this grouping. The EU countries now look very weak in defence no wonder they want to tie the UK in hoops and weld them in defence and security protocols as the UK has an excellent security system with MI5 and GCHQ . I wonder why they are pushing the UK far away with demands on trade, security, defence and laws on a Brexit deal, time to get a reality check and treat the UK as a trusted friend. I was astonished that Michel Barnier says the EU owes the UK nothing or a favoured deal on brexit is he living in the real world or is the EU? Who do they think will come to there aid should a military conflict flare or a World crisis it will only be the US and UK , Canada and Australia. Anyway this book has just been opened lets see how the Germans and the EU react if they don't step up there own defence spend they can only look in their own mirror.
Which country is a growing rival to the US domination over the world? Is it Russia, as was the USSR 70 years ago? or another one, as pointed out by general Michael T. Flynn a few years ago ? Some generals are apparently clearsighted. He was fired for saying so, but the world DOES change.
A few things to keep in perspective: (1) With the size of Germany's economy their ~1.3% of GDP contribution is 4 times what Poland contributes at 2% (and thank you to Poland for meeting the 2% with plans to go to 2.5%, at least preCovid). I would say that I would put more energy on German military readiness over their level of expenditure which I believe is the highest in Europe in real terms (given their GDP). (2) Second while I do believe moving some forces east into Poland makes sense, one must be careful in not getting too close to the Anti-Access Area Denial bubble that Russia can project from Kaliningrad. I am incredulous that NATO/EU stood by the last 5 years and let them develop such robust power projection capabilities there, including nuclear. (3) US troops are probably best increased on a rotational basis rather than permanent presence. A few thousand into Poland or Romania is a token gesture, a full armored brigade rotating into the region is a significant deterrent capability. (4) Yeah it is pretty simple, US troops in Germany are not there to protect Germany but as part of the overall NATO Command Structure not to mention headquarters for AFRICOM is also in Stuttgart (many studies have been made on moving this to Africa and they all come back with Central Europe is the right place). (5) Last and also critically important. NORDSTROM 2 must be required to comply with all EU requirements. If it does, this project will end up in a place that does not hurt Europe. Otherwise it is a poison pill in so many way. If this is why he is doing it Trump is right. Germany is absolutely selling out to Russia at the expense of NATO/EU security, meanwhile Russia spends all their time attacking our liberal democracies including Germany. This project has huge implications in so many countries and will cause major problems to Ukraine and other issues from the Baltic to Black Sea.
The Maginot line was not attacked in WWII, but the Eben-Emael fort, supposedly impregnable, was neutralized in a matter of hours by 85 glider-borne German troops. Another novelty was the use of hollow charges. The new tactics utilized by Wehrmacht’s armored forces, equipped with radios, operating independently, working in close cooperation with dive bombers, obliterated in days the Allies in the French campaign. Continuing the polices of the previous administrations, the present one has invested heavily in armaments aligned with the 21st century warfare, trillions in new nuclear weapons, hypersonic vectors, cruise missiles, drones, war in space, and probably much more; add to that paying to improve NATO’s EU members infrastructure, if somehow the first days of the war will be conventional (which is inconceivable). This shows again that regardless of the façade, by bipartisan will, NATO isn’t a trade organization, and security isn’t a commodity. It was founded on solidarity, on trust. And it is based on common values and common interests. For the uninformed in the EU, Wikipedia, which is free, shows that the Congress has the power to declare war, which it did last time in 1942, in response to Romania unleashing its military against the US in 1941. It took some time for the US bombers to reach the AA cannons over Ploiesti, operation Tidal Wave one of them. Moreover, war isn’t just about money, it is about will; Churchill’s “We shall fight them on the beaches” put him onto Sonderfahndungsliste, G.B, along with another 2299 to be arrested and worse by Einsatzgruppen, following a successful Seelowe. The author incorrectly references Ramstein as “or America’s operations in … Afghanistan”. Those are NATO operations in Afghanistan, not US, the token contribution of EU NATO members always referenced as solidarity. In the event of a war started as Bismarck predicted, it will immediately devolve into a brutal nuclear strategic exchange, with nuclear reactors cooling pools targeted, and massive cobalt release. CNN and similar emphasize the incredible mistakes made in handling the pandemic, while always forgetting that Russia has always been a strategic competitor, and acts accordingly. China and India are and will follow (surprisingly Merkel mentioned them recently, in her meddling in the US elections), add Sic Transit Gloria Mundi, the iron rule of human societies. It is also time for the EU and the US to debate during the elections why nuclear war is preferable to peace.
It is time for Europe to foot the NATO bill. I am tired of paying taxes to support dead beat Europeans.
Rarely read so many lines full of false truths and false facts as here. Respect! The comment with the survey "Germany had a poll about two years ago that showed 2/3 Germans do not believe in going to war to support a fellow NATO member under Article 5" is awesome. By the way, greetings from Germany. With such hair-raising assumptions, it would at least be no wonder if 2/3 Germans would not go to war for such friends. Fraternity and all that. In a nutshell: the withdrawal of troops is only an intrigue to force our defense budget up. Apart from the defense budget, which will probably have to be tightened in the future, a troop withdrawal does not really affect us. As if there were no major problems right now. I just say - recession, poverty in old age, shortage of care, environmental catastrophe ... blablabla. Where's your praised solidarity? Where's the American salvation plan? The soldier with a gun? Don't you care about your own fellow citizens, who are just as behind the eight ball as we are here? Would it be really surprising if the trust in American friendship is not particularly pronounced there? From the fact that it does not seem friendly to have your friends monitored by the National Security Agency. In short: anyone who demands friendship and solidarity should shine with friendship and solidarity!
Vladimir Putin has imprisoned more than a dozen Russian traitors who work for Beijing's intelligence. The Russian president knows he is in bad shape on the game board. China may decide that the strongest position to be a regional power is to invade Russia and acquire its abundant resources. This is the most cost-effective military option, given that, for now, China is a ground military power. Xi Jinping's secret decision could be to divide eastern Russia with the United States, which would occupy much of Siberia (the entire Siberian Peninsula from the Sea of Okhotsk to the south and the Siberian Sea to the northeast ), leaving the control of the Bering Strait to the USA and the Kamchatka Peninsula… This is known to Moscow and its nuclear bravado has faded because this "maneuver" would leave a Sino-American world very interesting for the two powers. It is a thousand times cheaper, profitable and beneficial than an endless war in the Indo-Pacific which would never be a "victory" for either China or the United States. To the German friend, Mr. Heuch Ler, I will say that your country is one of the 4 richest countries in the world ... but it lacks strategic importance if not the money owed on the table to survive alongside of the United States ... I can To assure you, Mr. Heuch Ler, that Germany will pay much more than the ridiculous 2% of the GDP, as well as to finance the whole war since Germany will have no choice, there will be no third opportunity for Germany to impose itself as a German homeland ... The visa is like that ... and with a war on the horizon, you will no longer have any luck. It is curious that a German speaks today of solidarity when no one in the European Union, nor in NATO, has the least love and respect for corrupt politicians in Germany. I hope you are not angry, Mr Heuch Ler. You should know that 70 years later, no one thinks of Germany as a partner in solidarity. Only Washington wants a strong Germany. The others feel nothing but contempt.
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