Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) released a joint statement saying they were “very concerned” over the Trump administration’s Friday announcement that 5,000 troops would be withdrawn from Germany. In the statement, the duo praised Merz’s role in boosting Germany’s defense spending and providing limited logistical support for U.S. forces in Operation Epic Fury.
“The reality remains that even as allies move toward spending 5% of GDP on defense, translating that investment into the military capability needed to assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence will take time,” the chairmen said. “Prematurely reducing America’s forward presence in Europe before those capabilities are fully realized risks undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin.”
The two urged Trump to send the 5,000 troops further east towards the border with Russia, and to coordinate with Congress.
The Department of War announced
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