The leaders of four southern German states, all home to American bases, have appealed to the US Congress to stop plans by the Trump administration to withdraw American forces from Germany.
Last month, Trump said he would cut the number of US forces in Germany by 9,500, to 25,000, accusing Germany, fellow NATO member, for failing to reach the North Atlantic alliance’s defense spending target and blaming it for taking advantage of the US on trade.
Although Germany does not owe NATO money, like many members, it is not meeting the promise to spend 2 percent of its annual economic output on defense.
The appeal from the four German leaders was addressed to 13 members of the US Congress.
Leaders of Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate wrote: “We, therefore, ask you to support us as we strive not to sever the bond of friendship but to strengthen it, and to secure the US presence in Germany and Europe in the future”.
The letter by the German leaders, seen by Reuters news agency and several German newspapers, read the US troops in Germany form “the backbone of US presence in Europe and NATO’s ability to act”.
Trump’s announcement about the removal of troops from Germany in mid-June had caught some US politicians by surprise and triggered a backlash in the US Congress over claims of the move weakening NATO’s position against Russia.
In response, the Trump administration asserted the decision would “enhance Russian deterrence, strengthen NATO, reassure Allies”.
US Congress members belonging from both chambers have been working on legislation that would block Trump from initiating the removal of US troops from Germany.