US Military Withdrawal Germany

The U.S. will not withdraw troops from Germany for now. In a keynote speech to diplomats Thursday, new U.S. President Joe Biden said he had halted his predecessor Donald Trump's plans for such a withdrawal. First, he said, the Pentagon should review the deployment of American troops worldwide. This must be consistent with Washington's foreign policy and strategic priorities, Biden said.

The United States President Donald Trump justified the move on Wednesday by citing the lack of "critical measures" to protect national security. "It is a 'gift' to China and Russia," he wrote in a memo to the House of Representatives.

Trump criticized that the comprehensive legislative package would not impose stronger regulations on online platforms. He also criticized that the possible renaming of military bases did not respect the history of the armed forces. Trump also criticized the attempt to limit by law the withdrawal of soldiers from Afghanistan, South Korea, and Germany, which he had ordered.

The Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has formally announced the decision of the Pentagon to withdraw around 11,900 troops from Germany.

According to US defence officials the relocation of the troops will take years and Esper has acknowledged that it will cost billions to execute. Around 6,400 troops will return to the United States while around 5,400 troops will stay in Europe according to the plans of the Pentagon.