"Only Liked Russia"... US Political Arena Clashes Over US Forces Withdrawal from Germany

Pompeo "Germany No Longer Frontline... Possible Deployment Near Russian Border"
Romney "Withdrawal Decision Seen as Insult to Germany"
Shaheen "Only Russia Publicly Welcomes the Move"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The issue of the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Germany is causing a stir in American politics. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was criticized by members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee over this matter.

Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

On the 30th (local time), Secretary Pompeo appeared before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to explain the background of the reduction of U.S. troops in Germany. Pompeo stated, "From the U.S. perspective, Germany is no longer the frontline," adding, "Through this troop redeployment, some of the U.S. forces previously stationed in Germany can be positioned closer to areas adjacent to Russia than before."

Earlier, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that it would redeploy about one-third of the U.S. troops stationed in Germany, approximately 12,000 personnel. Of those scheduled for withdrawal, 5,600 will be redeployed within Europe, while the remaining 6,400 will return to the United States.

Despite Pompeo's explanation, senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties expressed concerns about the decision-making process for the troop redeployment in Germany as well as the overall repercussions.

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney said, "I have heard from senior German government officials that they perceive this (redeployment decision) as an insult to Germany." He added, "The United States must stand with our friends if we are to collectively confront Russia," pointing out that the decision was made without prior consultation with Germany.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen noted, "Russia will likely be the only country to publicly support the decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Germany." Indeed, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian Presidential Administration, had previously expressed a welcoming stance, stating, "We have long maintained that the fewer U.S. troops in Europe, the more peaceful Europe will become." Contrary to the U.S. strategy to contain Russian expansion, this decision appears to have achieved what Russia desires. Pompeo referred to Russia as "a source of instability."

Some media outlets have also predicted that it will be difficult to newly deploy U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany to areas adjacent to Russia. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to international organizations, warned, "If the 12,000 troops withdrawing from Germany are to be deployed to countries newly joined to NATO, it would violate the fundamental agreements between NATO and Russia."

Meanwhile, during the hearing, Secretary Pompeo mentioned that he had worked on the former East German border during the Cold War. In this context, Senator Shaheen remarked, "The unit you belonged to has now come back to the United States due to this decision."

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