UK Media: "Trump Punishes Merkel by Reducing US Troops in Germany"... Undermining Global Security

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Concerns are rising that global security could be threatened beyond Europe as U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly ordered a reduction of U.S. troops stationed in Germany.

On the 8th (local time), the British daily The Times published a column titled "Trump's withdrawal of U.S. troops from Germany threatens us all," discussing the adverse effects that could follow if the plan is implemented. Earlier, President Trump had instructed that the number of U.S. troops in Germany be reduced by more than 25% to 25,000 starting in September. It is known that the original plan was a full withdrawal.

The Times mentioned that President Trump issued this order to rally his support base ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November and to shift responsibility onto German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is an adversary in the international community.

Supporting this view are Merkel's refusal to attend the G7 summit hosted by the U.S. and Germany's non-participation in the U.S.-led offensive against China amid escalating U.S.-China tensions.

The Times predicted that if the plan to reduce U.S. troops in Germany is executed, Europe's military readiness would be shaken.

The Times pointed out, "NATO's emergency response plans, which are crucial when Russia causes harm in Eastern Europe, rely heavily on the presence of U.S. troops in Germany. These troops are also essential for training, logistics, medical support, and intelligence gathering for operations in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia."

Furthermore, the newspaper highlighted that the presence of U.S. troops in Germany and the relationship between the U.S. and Europe based on this presence have been the foundation of the global leadership maintained by the U.S. since World War II.

Although there have been ups and downs, the U.S. has been able to uphold an international system benefiting not only Americans but everyone in finance, health, law, trade, and security by leveraging this foundation.

The Times criticized, "There is no room for such cooperation in President Trump's transactional worldview. He withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) and similarly disparages NATO, attempting to replace these with bilateral agreements that involve political praise and the purchase of American weapons."

Due to President Trump's attitude, it is also observed that trust in the U.S. is eroding not only in Europe but also in Asia.

The Times asserted, "Allies in East Asia are disappointed by President Trump's capricious actions. Countries like South Korea and Japan, which have unquestionably believed that the U.S. would guarantee their security, are increasingly distrusting America."

It added, "The risk of miscalculation by China and Russia is rapidly increasing. If the U.S. treats Germany like this, what price will Taiwan or Estonia have to pay?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.