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Trump: US plans to move some troops from Germany to Poland

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he expects to shift some US troops from Germany to Poland, as his Polish counterpart acknowledged urging the American leader not to withdraw forces from Europe.

Published: 25 June 2020 09:10 CEST
Trump: US plans to move some troops from Germany to Poland
US soldiers in Washington in April 2019 carry both American and German flags to welcome German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: DPA

“We are going to be reducing our forces in Germany,” Trump said of the 34,500 currently permanently based in Germany. “Some will be coming home and some will be going to other places but Poland would be one of those other places, other places in Europe.”

Moments earlier Trump said some troops would “probably” be moving to Poland.

The US leader was speaking at a Rose Garden press conference alongside
Polish President Andrzej Duda, who said he urged Trump to “not withdraw US
forces from Europe because the security of Europe is very important to me.”

Trump has announced that he plans to cut 9,500 troops from the country, reducing the number of service personal by one-third.

It's unclear which units would be cut, or when the reduction would occur.

READ ALSO: Trump 'to withdraw thousands of US soldiers by end of 2020'

Senior German politicians have expressed concern about the alleged US plan to cap troop numbers at around 25,000, which appeared to catch Berlin by surprise when it was announced earlier in June.

“This is completely unacceptable, especially since no one in Washington thought about informing NATO ally Germany in advance,” Merkel's coordinator for transatlantic relations Peter Beyer told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

The plan has raised fresh questions about Trump's commitment to longstanding cooperation agreements with European allies, with some observers fearing the move could undermine NATO security.

Johann Wadephul, a senior member in Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU party, said it was another “wake-up call” for Europeans to take more responsibility for their own defence.

READ ALSO: Berlin confirms US considering troop cuts in Germany

 

 

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NATO

Sweden strikes deal with Turkey over Nato membership

Sweden has finally won the backing of Turkey's President Erdogan for its Nato membership, with a deal struck on the eve of the alliance's Vilnius summit opening the way for Turkish ratification "as soon as possible".

Published: 10 July 2023 21:40 CEST
Sweden strikes deal with Turkey over Nato membership

“President Erdogan has agreed to forward the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification,” Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after the deal was struck. “This is a historic step which makes all Nato allies stronger and safer.” 

At the press conference, Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson, said it had been “a long day in a long journey towards Swedish membership”. 

“I am extremely happy,” he said. “This is a good day for Sweden”. 

In a separate joint statement, Sweden repeated its commitments to help Turkey in its “fight against terrorism” making an addition pledge to support Turkey’s in its long-stalled efforts to join the EU. 

“Sweden will actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkiye’s EU accession process, including modernisation of the EU-Turkiye Customs Union and
visa liberalisation,” the statement said.

In return, Turkey said it “will transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly, and work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification.”

Turkey has been holding up Sweden’s application to join the Atlantic alliance, accusing Stockholm of harbouring Kurdish activists Ankara regards as
terrorists.

And on Monday, Erdogan upped the stakes further, demanding that the European Union revive Turkey’s stalled EU membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining Nato.

Shortly before the deal was announced Erdogan interrupted his talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to hold talks with Charles Michel, the President of the EU Council. 

Michel hailed a “good meeting”, adding that they had “explored opportunities ahead to bring EU-Turkey cooperation back to the forefront and re-energise our relations”.

Turkey has been a formal candidate to join the European Union since 2005, and an aspirant since long before that, but talks have long been stalled with little sign of life.

US President Joe Biden welcomed the agreement. 

“I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area,” he said in a statement, adding: “I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally.”

“The path for Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s membership of Nato is finally clear,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on Twitter, hailing the “good news from Vilnius”.

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