US Plans to Accelerate Troop Withdrawal from Europe

The United States plans to accelerate the withdrawal of its troops from bases in Europe and will present proposals to NATO allies next month, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported on Saturday, citing a Pentagon source.

The US announced plans in May to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, a decision Reuters reported as stemming from tensions between President Trump and European powers over the war with Iran. Germany hosts the largest US military presence in Europe, with around 35,000 troops on active duty, though German media reports put the figure closer to 50,000.

The Pentagon said the withdrawal would be completed within 6 to 12 months. Welt am Sonntag did not provide details on how much the timeline would be accelerated or which locations might be affected.

The next NATO summit is scheduled for 7-8 July in Ankara, Turkey.

(reuters, tasr)