US could slash troop presence in Europe
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has accused European NATO members of not paying their fair share of defense costs, while his administration has hinted that the US may reduce its military footprint on the continent. In February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged allies to boost defense spending, warning they cannot assume 'America's presence' in Europe 'will last forever.' Reports indicate European leaders have been unsettled by potential drawdown plans, though neither their scope nor timeline has been defined.
Aylin Matle of the German Council on Foreign Relations has predicted a roughly 20% troop reduction possibly this fall, most likely involving the removal of about 20,000 troops deployed under Joe Biden in 2022 after the Ukraine conflict escalated.
She said even such a cut 'would still leave a substantial American footprint,' noting current US troop levels fluctuate between 90,000 and 100,000. Matle further suggested that the cuts could be lower, as US forces in Europe are used for regional defense and 'projecting power into the Middle East and, to some extent, Africa.'
The report notes that Germany, which hosts the largest US contingent in Europe of around 35,000 troops at 35 sites, is particularly alarmed by the potential cuts. Berlin's concerns come amid the EU's broader militarization drive, including the €800 billion ($930 billion) ReArm Europe initiative and a recent NATO pledge to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, both citing Russia as a threat. After meeting Hegseth earlier this month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he pressed Washington for a roadmap, warning of 'dangerous capability gaps' if US forces withdraw faster than Europe can replace them.
Moscow has rejected claims it poses a threat, calling them 'nonsense' and accusing the West of using such rhetoric to justify expanding military budgets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
EU state could ban Russian citizens from politics
Lithuanian conservatives have proposed banning Russian passport holders from serving as founders, members, or donors of political parties. The bill, drafted by the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TSLKD), the country's largest opposition party, would also require political parties to disclose members with multiple citizenships. The authors argue that nationals from Russia, Belarus, and China, which are designated as 'hostile states' by the Lithuanian government, pose a security threat. 'Citizens of hostile states, particularly those connected to Russian oligarchs, may exert influence through political parties,' bill co-author Dalia Asanaviciute said, according to LRT. She claimed that 'Russia allocates significant resources to interfere in democratic and political processes globally, with a focus on our region.' According to LRT, the bill was prompted by a report stating that Alvydas Brusokas, co-founder and donor of the Dawn of Nemunas party, holds dual Lithuanian-Russian citizenship. For centuries, Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire, and from 1940 to 1991, it was a republic within the Soviet Union. Ethnic Russians make up around 5% of the country's population of 2.89 million. Around 14,500 Russian citizens have residency permits in Lithuania, some of whom left Russia for political reasons. As one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine, Lithuania has been at the forefront of demanding tougher sanctions on Moscow. Earlier this year, the country passed a law allowing the revocation of residency for people who frequently travel to Russia or Belarus 'without objective reasons.' Conservatives also called for an amendment allowing the stripping of Lithuanian citizenship for supporting Russia in the conflict with Ukraine. Moscow has described Lithuania's attempts to portray Russia as a threat as 'incitement of Russophobia.'
Russia Today
6 hours ago
- Russia Today
Trump tariffs to cost German car giants over €10bn
Germany's leading carmakers are set to lose over €10 billion ($11.6 billion) in cash flow this year due to US trade tariffs, according to a study cited by the Financial Times. The industry is already contending with soaring energy costs, falling sales, and intensifying competition from China. The US is Germany's top foreign market but the latter's car industry has been among the hardest hit by President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. In March, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on foreign-made vehicle imports. After months of talks, the EU and US reached a deal on Sunday that sets a baseline 15% tariff on most exports, including cars, while steel and aluminum duties remain at 50%. Mercedes-Benz is expected to see its cash flow plunge from nearly $11 billion to about $3 billion this year, according to analytics platform Visible Alpha, cited by the FT. Forecasts for Volkswagen were slashed to $3.8 billion – less than half of last year's $9.5 billion – while BMW's cash flow is projected to dip slightly to $5 billion. On Friday, Volkswagen said tariffs had already cost it over $1 billion in the first half of the year and warned the burden could rise further. Suppliers have reportedly passed on higher costs of foreign-sourced components and raw materials such as aluminum and steel, further eroding margins. The EU-US deal, reached during a meeting between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was hailed by both as a 'powerful' and 'stabilizing' breakthrough. However, it triggered backlash across the bloc. Some EU officials called it 'scandalous' and 'a disaster,' claiming it failed to secure any concessions from the US. The German Federation of Industries labeled it an 'inadequate compromise,' with the tariff cut the 'only positive aspect.' The German auto sector's decline has deepened concerns over the health of the EU's largest manufacturing economy, which endured a recession last year. The IMF has forecast zero growth for Germany's economy this year, predicting it to be the only G7 country to stagnate.
Russia Today
7 hours ago
- Russia Today
Trump ate von der Leyen for breakfast
US President Donald Trump dominated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during trade negotiations, resulting in a bad deal for the EU, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. The trade pact was finalized on Sunday following months of tense negotiations. 'This was no agreement... Donald Trump ate Ursula von der Leyen for breakfast,' Orban said on a podcast on Monday. 'The European agreement is worse than the UK one. Setting it up for success will be difficult later on,' he argued. Washington set a 10% tariff on British imports in its deal with the UK last month. By comparison, EU exports to the US will face 15% tariffs, while American goods sold in the EU will face no retaliatory duties. Additionally, Brussels has pledged to invest another $600 billion in US industries, buy $750 billion worth of American energy, as well as purchase 'hundreds of billions of dollars' in US weapons, according to Trump. Von der Leyen said these investments will take place over the next three years. According to Orban, it is unclear who exactly will pay for this. The European Commission – the president of which signed the deal – lacks its own army and does not have the capital to buy US arms and energy resources, he said. 'In whose name was the agreement made?' he asked. Other officials in the EU also blasted the deal as lopsided. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Monday accused the bloc of caving to US coercion. Benjamin Haddad, France's minister in charge of European affairs, also criticized the 'unbalanced' trade pact, and called on Brussels to retaliate economically. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned in a speech on Monday that the deal will 'clearly' lead to the 'further deindustrialization of Europe and capital flight.' According to Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, 'Trump wiped the floor with Europe.'
