Brussels, May 4 (EFE).- The European Union’s high representative for foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, said Monday that the U.S. Department of Defense’s announcement that it will withdraw 5,000 American troops from bases in Germany is “surprising,” but underscores that Europe “needs to do more to truly strengthen NATO’s European pillar.”
“There has been talk for a long time about the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Europe, but the timing of this announcement is surprising. I think it shows that we really have to reinforce NATO’s European pillar and do more,” Kallas said on arrival at a summit of the European Political Community in Armenia.
The EU’s top diplomat added that U.S. forces stationed in Europe, including in Spain, “are not only here to protect European interests but also American ones.”
The Pentagon said over the weekend it plans to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. The announcement followed criticism from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who questioned Washington’s lack of an exit strategy in its conflict with Iran and said Tehran’s actions amount to a “humiliation” of the United States.
Asked whether she believed the move was a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to “punish” Merz for those remarks, Kallas said she “cannot look into Trump’s head” and that he would have to explain the decision himself. EFE
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