Italian Media Reports Trump Plans to Withdraw 20,000 US Troops from Europe
According to a report by ANSA news agency, the US president may also request that the EU cover the costs for the remaining American personnel. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The US president could also demand that the EU pays for remaining American personnel, ANSA news agency has reported.
US President Donald Trump is contemplating a 20% reduction of the American military presence in Europe as he reassesses Washington’s commitments to the region, according to Italian news agency ANSA, which cites diplomatic sources from the EU.
If the reduction takes place, the number of US service members stationed in Europe would drop from approximately 100,000 to 80,000, the agency indicated on Wednesday.
In recent discussions with European leaders, Trump has “consistently” expressed his intention to scale back the US military footprint on the continent, the sources revealed.
“Furthermore, for those [US troops] who remain, he would like financial contributions from European countries, because these soldiers are a deterrent, and the costs cannot be borne solely by American taxpayers,” one of the sources asserted.
Earlier this month, Trump stated that NATO member states in the EU should aim to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense, surpassing the current target of 2%. “They can afford it,” he maintained.
On Tuesday, the US president urged Brussels to “equalize” its support for Ukraine with that of Washington.
“We are in there for $200 billion more than the EU. I mean, what are we, stupid? I guess the answer is ‘yes.’ They must think so,” he remarked.
Trump also threatened to introduce tariffs on the EU due to its trade surplus with the United States. “The EU is very bad for us,” he claimed.
During a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron observed, “now that the new administration has taken office in the US, it is more important than ever for Europeans… to play their full part in consolidating a united, strong, and sovereign Europe.”
Scholz supported Macron’s viewpoint, acknowledging that “it is already clear that President Trump will be a challenge” for the EU.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump is contemplating a 20% reduction of the American military presence in Europe as he reassesses Washington’s commitments to the region, according to Italian news agency ANSA, which cites diplomatic sources from the EU.
If the reduction takes place, the number of US service members stationed in Europe would drop from approximately 100,000 to 80,000, the agency indicated on Wednesday.
In recent discussions with European leaders, Trump has “consistently” expressed his intention to scale back the US military footprint on the continent, the sources revealed.
“Furthermore, for those [US troops] who remain, he would like financial contributions from European countries, because these soldiers are a deterrent, and the costs cannot be borne solely by American taxpayers,” one of the sources asserted.
Earlier this month, Trump stated that NATO member states in the EU should aim to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense, surpassing the current target of 2%. “They can afford it,” he maintained.
On Tuesday, the US president urged Brussels to “equalize” its support for Ukraine with that of Washington.
“We are in there for $200 billion more than the EU. I mean, what are we, stupid? I guess the answer is ‘yes.’ They must think so,” he remarked.
Trump also threatened to introduce tariffs on the EU due to its trade surplus with the United States. “The EU is very bad for us,” he claimed.
During a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron observed, “now that the new administration has taken office in the US, it is more important than ever for Europeans… to play their full part in consolidating a united, strong, and sovereign Europe.”
Scholz supported Macron’s viewpoint, acknowledging that “it is already clear that President Trump will be a challenge” for the EU.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
