Bundestag Defense Committee Chair: US Troop Withdrawal from Germany a 'Wake-Up Call'
TASS
Chairman of the Bundestag Defense Committee Thomas Rowekamp said the planned US withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany is a 'wake-up call' but not 'cause for panic,' urging Europe to enhance its security autonomy. He called on Germany to take more responsibility and coordinate with European NATO partners to assume conventional capabilities. The Pentagon has announced the withdrawal will occur within 6-12 months.
BERLIN, May 2 (TASS). Chairman of the German Bundestag Defense Committee Thomas Rowekamp has characterized the planned withdrawal of 5,000 US soldiers from Germany as a 'wake-up call' but not a 'cause for panic.'
In an interview with the Rheinische Post, Rowekamp emphasized: 'A security partnership is not a business deal, and NATO is not a marketplace. Therefore, the ongoing provocative actions of the US president are unacceptable. However, the announced scale of the withdrawal of US troops from Germany is not a reason to panic—it is another wake-up call.'
For Germany, he said this means 'first and foremost, taking on more responsibility.' He called for action: 'We must not be led astray; we must resolutely strengthen our own capabilities. Europe must stand on its own two feet in security policy—and we are already moving in that direction. Germany is assuming this responsibility and will gradually take over conventional capacities from the Americans together with its European partners in NATO.'
Sarah Nanni, the Green Party's defense policy spokesperson, urged a coordinated response at the European level. She argued that it is necessary to highlight 'where and how the United States depends on Europe to advance its own interests.' She criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for 'wavering between getting closer to the US president and distancing himself from him.' She added: 'The best approach is to coordinate at the European level.'
Peter Beyer, a foreign policy expert from the CDU party, stated that 'interpreting this as a form of punishment against Germany or Friedrich Merz personally is completely wrong. These are long-term plans.'
According to Jurgen Hardt, another CDU foreign policy expert, the US withdrawal plan stems from the US president's low approval ratings. Hardt assessed that President Donald Trump sees that 'the ground is slipping beneath his feet' ahead of the November midterm elections. This declaration is concerning primarily because it 'somewhat undermines' the credibility of the deterrence doctrine, which posits that Europe would be defended in the event of an attack.
Currently, approximately 38,000 US military personnel are stationed in Germany, the largest US military presence in Europe. The Pentagon previously announced the withdrawal of 5,000 soldiers from Germany within the next 6 to 12 months. President Trump had earlier indicated that the US is considering reducing its military forces stationed in Germany, Italy, and Spain.
The US leader did not explain the rationale behind the decision regarding Germany, but the announcement came after Chancellor Merz criticized the Washington administration's military campaign against Tehran, arguing it lacked a clear strategy. On April 28, Trump accused the German chancellor of 'thinking it is acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons.'
