US may pull out forces from Central, Eastern Europe, reports Bild
According to anonymous sources cited by the tabloid, Moscow is seeking to persuade Washington to withdraw from countries that became NATO members following 1990. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Moscow is reportedly seeking to persuade Washington to withdraw from nations that became NATO members after 1990, according to claims from a tabloid citing anonymous sources.
Bild reported on Wednesday that Western security services and politicians are expressing concern over a possible withdrawal of US troops from NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The tabloid suggests that Russia may be aiming to significantly reduce the US military presence on the continent.
According to Bild, NATO’s European members are apprehensive that high-level talks between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday could result in such a development. The German media outlet quoted an anonymous Western European security official stating, “according to our information, we’re talking about [Vladimir] Putin’s 2021 demands, that is, the withdrawal of US troops from all NATO states that joined the alliance after 1990.”
In December 2021, Russia presented a series of proposals to the US and NATO, seeking to restructure Europe’s security framework and prevent Ukraine from joining the alliance. The West responded by rejecting what it viewed as an ultimatum.
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also weighed in, tweeting on X on Tuesday that “it seems much more than likely” the Kremlin would renew its demands that “NATO must go back to its 1997 borders, retreating from everything except East Germany.” He pointed out that while Trump cannot unilaterally enact a “reversal of NATO enlargement,” he could still “withdraw US troops from the Eastern Flank, which would have almost the same effect.”
The countries that could potentially be impacted include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.
A Romanian official echoed these concerns on Wednesday. Cristian Diaconescu, the president's chief of staff and adviser for defense and national security, claimed that while the US delegation had dismissed Moscow’s alleged demands in Riyadh, “the situation can change from hour to hour or from day to day,” suggesting Washington might eventually concede.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations on Friday as “not true,” although he acknowledged that Moscow's concerns about “NATO’s military infrastructure having inched toward our borders as part of several waves” are “no secret to anyone.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
Bild reported on Wednesday that Western security services and politicians are expressing concern over a possible withdrawal of US troops from NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The tabloid suggests that Russia may be aiming to significantly reduce the US military presence on the continent.
According to Bild, NATO’s European members are apprehensive that high-level talks between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday could result in such a development. The German media outlet quoted an anonymous Western European security official stating, “according to our information, we’re talking about [Vladimir] Putin’s 2021 demands, that is, the withdrawal of US troops from all NATO states that joined the alliance after 1990.”
In December 2021, Russia presented a series of proposals to the US and NATO, seeking to restructure Europe’s security framework and prevent Ukraine from joining the alliance. The West responded by rejecting what it viewed as an ultimatum.
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also weighed in, tweeting on X on Tuesday that “it seems much more than likely” the Kremlin would renew its demands that “NATO must go back to its 1997 borders, retreating from everything except East Germany.” He pointed out that while Trump cannot unilaterally enact a “reversal of NATO enlargement,” he could still “withdraw US troops from the Eastern Flank, which would have almost the same effect.”
The countries that could potentially be impacted include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.
A Romanian official echoed these concerns on Wednesday. Cristian Diaconescu, the president's chief of staff and adviser for defense and national security, claimed that while the US delegation had dismissed Moscow’s alleged demands in Riyadh, “the situation can change from hour to hour or from day to day,” suggesting Washington might eventually concede.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations on Friday as “not true,” although he acknowledged that Moscow's concerns about “NATO’s military infrastructure having inched toward our borders as part of several waves” are “no secret to anyone.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
