Two senior US Republican lawmakers have criticized the Pentagon's decision to cut 5,000 US troops stationed in Germany, warning it risks undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to Russia.
Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, who chair the Senate and House armed services committees respectively, argue the troops should be moved further east, not withdrawn.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the move followed a thorough review, recognizing "theater requirements and conditions on the ground." President Donald Trump hinted at further reductions, saying, "We're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000."
The US maintains over 36,000 active duty troops in Germany, its largest European deployment. The decision has sparked concern within NATO, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warning, "The greatest threat to the transatlantic community is not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance."
The troop cut follows a public spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Iran policy. The Pentagon expects the withdrawal to be completed within six to twelve months.