Plans confirmed – Trump wants to punish Germany troop withdrawal

Plans confirmed – Trump wants to punish Germany with the withdrawal of troops because Berlin is refusing to increase defense spending, wants to reduce U.S. President Donald Trump, the number of U.S. soldiers in Germany to 25’000.”Why pay Germany Russia billions of dollars for energy, then we have to protect Germany against Russia?” asks the American President Donald Trump. (15. June 2020)Keystone/Evan VucciTrump accuses Germany to the disadvantage of the United States in the trade.Keystone/Evan VucciTrump said that Germany was one of the few member States that have not agreed to the self-imposed Nato target for defence spending.Keystone/Doug Mills1 / 8

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that he wants to reduce the number of US soldiers in Germany to 25’000. Trump said on Monday at an event at the White house on the grounds that Germany would refuse to increase defense spending.

Therefore, the self-imposed, Nato is not going to reached the objective of financing, it was called more. Currently, about 34’500 US soldiers are stationed in Germany. Trump spoke of 52’000 soldiers. In this number, around 17’000 American civilians in the service of the United States is expected to be the armed forces included.

protection from Russia?

The U.S. President criticized also: “Why Germany pays Russia billions of dollars for energy, then we have to protect Germany from Russia? How is that going to work? It doesn’t work.” Trump played, among other things, on the Baltic sea Pipeline Nord Stream 2, which aims to bring Gas from Russia to Germany, bypassing Ukraine and Poland. The US wants to prevent Nord Stream 2 and have imposed at the end of last year sanctions.

Trump accused Germany on Monday in addition to the disadvantage of the United States in the trade. The negotiations with the EU on a trade agreement did not go so far to his satisfaction. With a view to the Nato Trump added that Germany was one of the few member States that have not agreed to the self-imposed Nato target for defence spending. “Germany has for years been in default and the Nato owes billions of dollars, and you have to pay for it.”

1,38 instead of 2.0 percent

The Two-percent target of the Nato States that all allies to converge until the year 2024 is the target, at least two percent of their gross domestic product GDP for defense spending. Germany has increased expenditure significantly in the past years, but in 2019, however, only when a proportion of GDP by 1.38 percent. Especially Trump exercises continuous criticism of the German government and accuses her of low commitment. Trump said on Monday, two percent were actually too little.

Trump also referred to the economic damage that a partial withdrawal of soldiers from Germany would have for the environment of the affected sites. “These are well-paid soldiers. You live in Germany. You spend much of your money in Germany.” The US President added: “Until you (pay the Germans), we withdraw our soldiers, a part of our soldiers.”

(SDA /chk)