German Chancellor Scholz To Meet President Biden At The White House

 

Daily Mail: Biden and German Chancellor Scholz set for crunch White House meeting for talks on threats of China arming Russia and Republicans threatening to audit all US weapons sent to Ukraine 

* Two men will sit down in Oval Office for private meeting Friday 

* Will discuss their recent meetings with Zelensky 

* Zelensky wants more Western weapons amid worries China will arm Russia 

President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will discuss the war in Ukraine during a closed-door meeting at the White House on Friday that comes as China considers arming Russia and Republicans push back on U.S. assistance to the embattled nation. 

The two leaders also will discuss the meetings each man had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - Biden when he traveled to Kyiv two weeks ago and Scholz when Zelensky traveled to Paris in early February - and his requests for more military aid.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Will German Chancellor Scholz ask President Biden directly if he ordered the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines? I doubt it. the meeting will focus on China and supplying weapons to Ukraine. 

German Chancellor Scholz To Meet President Biden At The White House  

German chancellor goes to US feeling confident -- DW  

Biden, Scholz to huddle on Ukraine war at White House -- AP  

Biden welcomes German Chancellor to White House for talks on Ukraine -- UPI  

Biden, Scholz to map out next steps for Ukraine -- AFP  

Ukraine, China on agenda for Biden meeting with German chancellor -- USA Today  

Joe Biden to meet Olaf Scholz in effort to keep Ukraine strategies aligned -- The Guardian  

Biden, Germany's Scholz to weigh Ukraine aid in White House meeting -- Axios

President Biden 'Promises' He Will Stop Nord Stream 2 Pipeline If Russia Invades Ukraine

 

Daily Mail: Biden 'promises' he will STOP Nord Stream 2 pipeline turning on if Putin invades Ukraine and tells ALL Americans to leave Kiev: German Chancellor Scholz doesn't mention gas project - but insists he is 'united' with the US against Russia 

* President Joe Biden confirmed there will be no Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invades the Ukraine although he did not detail how that would be accomplished 

* Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House 

* 'If Russia invades - that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again - then there will no longer be Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it,' Biden said 

* But Biden didn't say how - the pipeline stretches 764 miles from Russia across Baltic states and into Germany * 'I promise you we'll be able to do it,' the president said 

* Scholz wouldn't mention Nord Stream 2 by name but only said U.S. and Germany are 'united' when it comes to Russian aggression 

* 'We're acting together,' the chancellor said. 'We're absolutely united and we will not take different steps' 

* Meeting comes as Germany accused of being 'missing in action' on Ukraine 

* Allies frustrated Scholz won't send lethal weapons to Ukraine, increase German troops in Eastern Europe or say which sanctions he'll back 

President Joe Biden confirmed on Monday that there will be no Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invades the Ukraine although he did not detail how that would be accomplished. 

Biden made his remarks in a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany would be one of the biggest benefiters of the pipeline. 

The country relies on 50 percent of its natural gas supply from Russia. 

'If Russia invades - that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again - then there will no longer be Nord Stream 2. 

We will bring an end to it,' Biden said.  

Read more .... 

President Biden 'Promises' He Will Stop Nord Stream 2 Pipeline If Russia Invades Ukraine  

Biden vows no Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine -- AP  

Biden promises no Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine -- DW  

Ukraine crisis: Nord Stream 2 will end if Russia invades - Biden -- BBC  

Nord Stream 2 pipeline will 'end' if Russia invades Ukraine: Biden -- AFP  

Biden says no Nord Stream 2 pipeline project if Russia invades Ukraine -- UPI  

US and Germany working in ‘lockstep’ on Ukraine crisis: Biden -- Al Jazeera  

Biden says Germany is marching ‘in lockstep’ with Washington -- RT  

US Says ‘In Lock-Step’ With Germany Against Russia, ‘Door Open’ to Sending More Troops to Europe -- Sputnik

Biden: It 'would be wise' for Americans to leave Ukraine -- AP  

Nord Stream 2 pipeline proves to be a sticking point in Biden and new German chancellor's show of unity -- Kevin Liptak, CNN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz To Meet President Biden At The White House

 

Daily Mail: Biden will welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House today to discuss his refusal to send weapons to Ukraine, sanctions on Russia and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as tensions mount in Eastern Europe 

* President Joe Biden will welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House to discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine and Nord Stream 2 

* Meeting comes as Germany accused of being 'missing in action' on Ukraine 

* Allies frustrated Scholz won't send lethal weapons to Ukraine, increase German troops in Eastern Europe or say which sanctions he'll back 

* U.S. also opposes Nord Stream 2, said pipeline won't happen if Russia invades President 

Joe Biden will welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House on Monday to discuss Russian aggression against the Ukraine and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as tensions mount in Eastern Europe. 

Scholz's visit comes as both Democrats and Republicans - along with American allies in Western Europe - have accused Germany of being 'missing in action' on Ukraine and expressed frustration Berlin hasn't done more to help its fellow NATO members in Eastern Europe as Russia builds up its military force on the Ukraine border. 

Read more .... 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz To Meet President Biden At The White House  

Joe Biden to meet German chancellor as Ukraine tensions mount – live -- The Guardian  

Germany's Olaf Scholz is in Washington amid Ukraine crisis -- DW  

German chancellor predicts 'united and decisive' response if Russia invades Ukraine -- The Hill  

Biden to welcome German Chancellor Scholz to White House, discuss Russia-Ukraine situation -- FOX News  

Scholz to Meet With Biden on Monday Amid Tensions Over Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 -- Sputnik

German Magazine Der Spiegel Is Saying That German Chancellor Turned Down President Biden's Invite To Discuss The Ukraine Crisis

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a statement before a cabinet enclosure at the Chancellery to lay out and discuss Germany's policy plans for its G7 presidency in Berlin, Germany, January 21, 2022. Michael Kappeler/Pool via REUTERS  

Reuters: German Chancellor Turned Down Biden Invite to Discuss Ukraine Crisis - Der Spiegel 

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz turned down an invite at short notice from U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss the Ukraine crisis, German magazine Der Spiegel said on Friday. 

Scholz did not accept the invitation due to a full schedule, including a trip to Madrid, as well as the desire to show that he was present as Germany grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Der Spiegel.  

Read more ....  

Update: German chancellor snubs Biden – Der Spiegel (RT)  

WNU Editor: The German Chancellor's office is denying this report .... Olaf Scholz denies 'refusing' to meet with Joe Biden to discuss Ukraine crisis (The Telegraph). So is the White House .... White House denies Scholz rejected Biden invite (Politico). 

But it is true that the German government is giving mixed messages on the Ukraine crisis .... Germany Under Fire Over Mixed Russia Signals (Moscow Times/AFP).  

Update #2: Biden To Meet Germany's Scholz In Washington In February: US (AFP).

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Blew Off President Biden's First Call To A Foreign Leader

Biden wanted his first call to a foreign leader to be to Angela Merkel, but she blew him off to spend time at her country house: report  

Daily Mail: Biden wanted his first call to a foreign leader to be to Angela Merkel, but she blew him off and he phoned Boris Johnson instead 

* President Biden wanted his first call to a foreign leader to go to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but she turned him down to spend the weekend away 

* Biden's second option was UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who accepted his first foreign phone call 

* The chancellor's advisors reportedly warned her that the US president would have to call several other leaders ahead of her, but she said she found the symbolism irrelevant 

* Merkel, a member of the conservative party, is stepping down from her chancellorship in the coming months after 16 years in charge 

In a show of traditional trans-Atlantic diplomacy, President Biden wanted his first call to a foreign leader to go to German chancellor Angela Merkel, but she turned him down to spend more time at her country home. 

Biden's second option was UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who accepted his first foreign phone call. 

Merkel declined Biden's call to spend more time at her country home outside Berlin, where she spends some weekends tending to her vegetable garden and taking walks by the lake, those close to her told the Wall Street Journal. 

Read more ....  

Update: Biden wanted his first call to a foreign leader to be to Angela Merkel, but she blew him off to spend time at her country house: report (Business Insider)  

WNU Editor: Traditionally the first leader that a newly elected US President called was the Canadian Prime Minister. I guess that tradition is now dead.

U.S. Tells Ukraine To Stay Quiet On Russia-Germany Pipeline Agreement

© AP Photo / Dmitry Lovetsky  

Politico: U.S. urges Ukraine to stay quiet on Russian pipeline 

The Biden administration is asking an unhappy Ukraine not to make waves, as it nears Russia-Germany pipeline agreement. 

In the midst of tense negotiations with Berlin over a controversial Russia-to-Germany pipeline, the Biden administration is asking a friendly country to stay quiet about its vociferous opposition. And Ukraine is not happy. 

U.S. officials have signaled that they’ve given up on stopping the project, known as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and are now scrambling to contain the damage by striking a grand bargain with Germany. 

At the same time, administration officials have quietly urged their Ukrainian counterparts to withhold criticism of a forthcoming agreement with Germany involving the pipeline, according to four people with knowledge of the conversations. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The U.S. and Germany have come to an agreement that will permit the completion of Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline .... US and Germany reach agreement to allow Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline (FOX News). Apparently there are retaliatory actions in this agreement if Russia harms Ukraine's energy interests .... US, Germany Threaten Retaliatory Action Against Russia in Draft Nord Stream 2 Accord - Report (Sputnik). 

As to what is my take.

This U.S. - Germany agreement is a joke. The following commentary is spot on .... Putin will laugh at Biden and Merkel's farcical Nord Stream 2 deal (Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner).

US National Security Agency Reportedly Spied On German Chancellor Angela Merkel And Other Top European Politicians With Denmark's Help

 

DW: Danish secret service helped US spy on Germany's Angela Merkel: report 

Denmark's complicity in the NSA spying scandal against German politicians has been revealed in a joint European media investigation. 

Denmark's secret service helped the US National Security Agency (NSA) spy on EU leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a European media investigation published on Sunday revealed. 

The disclosure that the US had been spying on its allies first came to light in 2013, but it is only now that journalists have gained access to reports detailing the support given to the NSA by the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE).  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Germany wants answers .... Germany seeks ‘clarification’ over media report claiming Denmark’s secret service helped NSA spy on Merkel (RT). More here .... Europe demands answers after US-Danish spying claims (France 24). 

More News On The US National Security Agency Reportedly Spying On German Chancellor Angela Merkel And Other Top European Politicians With Denmark's Help 

NSA spying row: Denmark accused of helping US spy on European officials -- BBC  

U.S. spied on Merkel and other Europeans through Danish cables - broadcaster DR -- Reuters  

Denmark helped US spy on Merkel and European allies, says report -- France 24  

Denmark helped US spy on Angela Merkel and European allies – report -- The Guardian  

US security agency spied on Merkel, other top European officials through Danish cables -- Euractiv  

The US reportedly spied on Angela Merkel and other top European politicians with Denmark's help -- Business Insider  

France says allegations of US espionage on European leaders are ‘extremely serious’ & may have ‘consequences -- RT  

Did Denmark help the US spy on European leaders? -- Euronews/AP

Germany Wants To Tax U.S. Soldiers Who Are Stationed There

Attendees salute the U.S. and German flags during the groundbreaking ceremony here for the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Medical Center Replacement, Oct. 24, 2014, in Weilerbach, Germany. (Sgt. Daniel Cole/Army) 

TaxProf Blog: Germany Seeks To Tax Income Of U.S. Soldiers Stationed There 

In an ongoing story, that is certain to be of interest to Americans abroad, Germany has begun treating certain US Military Personnel as tax residents of Germany. In other words, Germany is imposing tax (and apparently penalties) on the income earned by US military personnel stationed in Germany. The starting point is that US Forces in Germany (and other countries) are governed by the SOFA (“Status Of Forces Agreement”) agreement. Among other things, the SOFA agreement exempts US service personnel from being treated as tax residents of the country where they are serving. In simple terms: As long as the individual serviceman meets the conditions in the SOFA agreement, he/she would NOT be treated as a tax resident of Germany. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: On top of the tax threats. The cost of living in Germany is very high.

Hat tip: Instapundit

Reports: Germany Offered U.S. A Deal To Buy American Liquid Gas In Exchange For Dropping Nord Stream 2 Sanctions

The planned route of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline by-passes Ukraine entirely, cutting the nation off from transit fees it gets from existing gas pipelines. 

DW: Germany offered US 'dirty deal' to drop Nord Stream 2 sanctions 

A German environmental NGO claims Finance Minister Olaf Scholz offered to aid the import of liquid gas from the US if the Trump administration dropped threatened action against the Russian pipeline project. 

The German government offered the Trump administration financial support of up to €1 billion ($1.21 billion) in a bid to prevent Washington from imposing sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, according to documents published by the non-profit Environmental Action Germany (DUH) Tuesday. 

The controversial pipeline, which is nearing completion, would double the amount of natural gas delivered annually from Russia to Germany. 

Read more .... 

Update #1: Germany defends Russia pipeline, mum on reported offer to US (AP) 

Update #2: Germany mum on letter offering gas aid if US drops sanctions (Canadian Press) 

WNU Editor: The German government is denying reports that they offered the Trump administration a deal to drop US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline .... Germany denies offering US ‘dirty deal’ to drop sanctions against Nord Stream 2 (RT).

President Biden Freezes Former President Trump's Order To Withdraw Some US Troops from Germany

 

Euronews: President Biden freezes withdrawal of US troops from Germany 

President Joe Biden will freeze the withdrawal of US troops from American bases in Berlin in his latest reversal of a decision made by Donald Trump during his tumultuous four-year stint in the White House. 

Biden "will announce that Secretary Austin will lead a global force posture review and during the pendency of that review will freeze any troop redeployments from Germany," said White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Thursday 

Read more .... 

Update #1: Biden Halts Trump-Ordered US Troops Cuts in Germany -- US News and World Report/AP Update #2: Biden Freezes Trump’s Withdrawal of 12,000 Troops From Germany -- NYTimes 

WNU Editor: President Biden is signaling to Germany that contrary to former President Trump's demand that Germany meets their promised commitments on defense spending, the Biden administration will have a more lenient approach towards this issue.

Pentagon Puts On Hold U.S. Troop Drawdown From Germany

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade receive orders about how to proceed over a mound while conducting a live-fire exercise in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 27, 2020. (U.S. Army photo/Ryan Lucas) 

Military.com: US Plan to Withdraw Troops from Germany Up for Reconsideration, SecDef Says 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has voiced his commitment to shoring up close ties with NATO ally Germany that were strained under the Trump administration, and suggested that the plan to withdraw 12,000 U.S. troops from the country is open to discussion. 

In a phone call to his German counterpart, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Austin "expressed his gratitude to Germany for continuing to serve as a great host for U.S. forces, and expressed his desire for a continued dialogue on U.S. force posture in Germany," according to a Pentagon readout of the call released Wednesday. 

Read more .... 

Update: Biden's Defense Secretary Puts The Brakes On Trump's Germany Troop Draw Down (Zero Hedge) 

WNU Editor: One of the main reasons why former President Trump ordered a troop draw down from Germany was Germany's unwillingness to keep its promise of raising its defense budget. 

The Biden administration is now sending the signal that not keeping your defense promises and commitments is OK. 

Talk about sending the wrong message.

U.S. To Withdraw About 12,000 Soldiers From Germany But Half Will Stay In Europe

© Global Look Press / dpa-Zentralbild / Jens Büttner

Reuters: U.S. to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany but nearly half to stay in Europe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military on Wednesday unveiled plans to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany following a decision by President Donald Trump, but said it will keep nearly half of them in Europe to address tension with Russia.

Trump announced his intention last month to cut the 36,000-strong U.S. troop contingent in Germany to 25,000, faulting the close U.S. ally for failing to meet NATO’s defense spending target and accusing it of taking advantage of the United States on trade.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has sought, however, to present the pullout in a way that would prevent undermining NATO and its efforts to deter Russian intervention, following Moscow’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Withdrawing About 12,000 Soldiers From Germany

US to withdraw or relocate more troops in Germany than previously thought -- DW
US to bring 6,400 troops home from Germany, move 5,400 more -- AP
U.S. moves nearly 12,000 troops out of Germany -- CNBC
US to withdraw nearly 12,000 troops from Germany in move that will cost billions and take years -- CNN
US says it will withdraw nearly 12,000 troops from Germany and place around half elsewhere in Europe -- Euronews
U.S. to withdraw almost 12,000 troops from Germany in sweeping reorganization -- NBC
Pentagon: US Troops From Germany to Be Repositioned Closer to Russia's Borders -- Sputnik
Thousands of US troops to begin moving out of Germany within weeks – Pentagon chief -- RT

Four German States With US Bases Have Appealed To The U.S. Congress Not To Withdraw American Troops

A US soldier in Dresden. Photo: DPA

Reuters: German states appeal to U.S. Congress not to withdraw troops

BERLIN (Reuters) - The premiers of four German states have appealed to members of the U.S. Congress to block plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Germany, according to letters seen by Reuters on Sunday.

President Donald Trump said last month he would cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany by 9,500 to 25,000, faulting the fellow NATO member for failing to meet the North Atlantic alliance’s defence spending target and accusing it of taking advantage of America on trade.

The prime ministers of the four southern states, all home to U.S. bases, addressed the letters to 13 members of Congress including senators Mitt Romney and Jim Inhofe.

Read more ....

Update #1: German Regional Leaders Appeal to U.S. Lawmakers to Keep Troops (Bloomberg)
Update #2: German states appeal to US Congress not to withdraw troops (Al Jazeera)

WNU Editor: Too late. They are leaving.

German Chancellor Merkel Says Europe Should Brace For A Reality In Which US Is No Longer A World Power

FILE PHOTO. Donald Trump and Angela Merkel during a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the NATO summit in Watford, Britain. ©REUTERS / Kevin Lamarque

The Guardian: Do not assume US still aspires to be a world leader, Merkel warns

German chancellor says rethink will be needed if US waves goodbye to global role

The rest of the world can no longer take it for granted that the US still aspires to be a global leader and needs to readjust its priorities accordingly, Angela Merkel has warned.

“We grew up in the certain knowledge that the United States wanted to be a world power,” the German chancellor said in an interview with a group of six European newspapers, including the Guardian.

“Should the US now wish to withdraw from that role of its own free will, we would have to reflect on that very deeply.”

Read more ....

Update: Europe should brace for a reality in which US is no longer a world power – Merkel (RT)

WNU Editor: By virtue of its economy and military, The U.S. will be a global power for a long time. What irks German Chancellor Merkel is that the U.S. now wants other countries (like Germany) to foot some of the bill that will help maintain the U.S. as a global power. From defense spending to not giving adversaries like Russia an economic advantage (i.e. natural gas pipelines).

President Trump Confirms That Thousands Of US Troops Will Be Departing From Germany

Daily Mail: Donald Trump says thousands of U.S. troops will move from Germany to Poland as he attacks Angela Merkel's government for 'not paying' for NATO

* President Trump said Wednesday at a press conference with the Polish president that he was open to sending U.S. troops stationed in Germany to Poland
* 'Some will be coming home and some will be going to other places, but Poland would be one of those other places,' Trump said
* Trump wants to pull American forces out of Germany who he accuses of not spending enough money on NATO, but buying Russian oil
* 'You're spending billions of dollars to Russia, then we're supposed to defend you from Russia,' he said in the Rose Garden
* Trump met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in advance of his country's election, where like Trump, Duda has been rallying his conservative base

President Trump said Wednesday at a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda that he was open to sending U.S. troops stationed in Germany to Poland.

'We're going to be reducing our forces in Germany. Some will be coming home and some will be going to other places, but Poland would be one of those other places,' Trump said in the White House Rose Garden.

Trump wants to take thousands of U.S. forces out of Germany because he says the United States bears too much of a financial burden for the deployment and criticizes the government in Berlin for buying Russian energy.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Germany is saying this withdrawal will be sending the wrong message to the Kremlin .... German defense minister responds to US plans for a troop drawdown (Atlantic Council). This is the same Germany that has not kept its promises on NATO/defense spending for years, and is now expanding trade and the construction of a new natural gas pipeline to Germany.

More News On President Trump Confirming That Thousands Of US Troops Will Be Departing From Germany

Trump confirms plan to slash U.S. troop presence in Germany; some ‘probably’ will relocate to Poland -- Washington Post
Trump says US 'probably' will move troops from Germany to Poland, slams Berlin for owing 'lot of money' to NATO -- ABC News
Trump Says He Will Move Some U.S. Troops To Poland From Germany -- NPR
Trump signals US will move troops from Germany to Poland-- The Hill
Logistical hurdles could slow U.S. troop withdrawal from Germany -- Military Times/AP

President Trump Confirms Plan To Cut US Troops In Germany To 25,000 Unless Germany Pays Its NATO Bills

The Hill: Trump confirms plan to cut US troops in Germany to 25,000

President Trump on Monday confirmed plans to cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany by roughly half.

“We’re putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“Germany’s delinquent,” Trump added. “They’ve been delinquent for years, and they owe NATO billions of dollars, and they have to pay it. So we’re protecting Germany, and they’re delinquent. That doesn’t make sense.”

Read more ....

More News On President Trump Confirming Plans To Cut US Troops In Germany To 25,000

Trump announces major US troop cut in ‘delinquent’ Germany -- AP
Trump says U.S. pulling some soldiers out of Germany over NATO spending feud -- Reuters
US to slash the number of American troops in Germany, Trump says -- France 24
Trump confirms plans to pull some US troops out of Germany -- Military Times
Donald Trump says he wants the number of U.S. troops in Germany cut in half -- USA Today
Trump CONFIRMS pullout of US troops from Germany, until Berlin pays ‘delinquent' NATO bills -- RT

Germany Says President Trump's Decision To Remove 10,000 US Soldiers Is Unacceptable

Reuters: U.S. decision to withdraw troops from Germany 'unacceptable' - Merkel ally

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s coordinator for transatlantic ties has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.

Trump has ordered the U.S. military to remove 9,500 troops from Germany, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.

“This is completely unacceptable, especially since nobody in Washington thought about informing its NATO ally Germany in advance,” Peter Beyer, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

Following Trump’s decision, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a newspaper interview that he regretted the planned withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Germany, describing Berlin’s relationship with the United States as “complicated”.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: After being warned by President Trump for three years that Germany needs to increase its commitment to NATO defense. Coupled with Berlin making promises that they would meet their commitments .... but fell short all the time. Throw in Germany's push for extensive economic ties with China and Russia, while ignoring US geopolitical and national security concerns. The U.S. had to make a decision, and they did.

More News On Germany Saying President Trump's Decision To Remove 10,000 US Soldiers Is Unacceptable

German official calls report of Trump’s plan to pull troops ‘unacceptable’ -- FOX News
Reported US troop drawdown could hurt NATO security, German official says -- The Hill
Trump orders nearly 10K troops removed from Germany in ‘unacceptable’ move -- NYPost
German foreign minister laments decline of US ties -- DW
Observers sceptical over reports on planned US troop withdrawal from Germany -- DW
German towns face economic hit should US troops go -- DW

According To The German Magazine Spiegel President Trump Wants To Remove 15,000 US Troops From Germany, Not 9,500

JONATHAN ERNST/ REUTERS

Sputnik: Trump May Withdraw More Troops From Germany Than Initially Anticipated, Report Says

On Friday, US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration was planning to slash US troop numbers in Germany from 34,500 to 25,000 and to freeze the maximum troop numbers at this level, with 9,500 military personnel expected to be redeployed elsewhere. Warsaw has already lobbied Washington to have them redeployed to Poland.

Washington wants to withdraw as many as 15,000 troops from Germany, not 9,500 as earlier reported by the Wall Street Journal, Spiegel has reported.

According to the magazine, the White House informed Congress of its plans to remove between 5,000 and 15,000 troops from the central European country by as soon as autumn of 2020.

Spiegel says Berlin was not informed of Washington’s decision, noting that given “the scope of the plans, the move could certainly be called a provocation.”

Read more ....

Previous Post: Germany Stunned By President Trump's Decision To Withdraw 9,500 US Soldiers (June 6, 2020)

WNU Editor: The Spiegel article (in German) is here.

Germany Stunned By President Trump's Decision To Withdraw 9,500 US Soldiers

DW: German conservatives slam reported US troop withdrawal

With the US reportedly set to move some 9,500 soldiers out of Germany, conservative MP Andreas Nick told DW the decision seemed to be "politically motivated." Another senior CDU politician described it as a wake-up call.

Washington's alleged plan to transfer about 9,500 troops out of its German bases is a symbolic gesture that is likely to weaken US military operations and "further deteriorate" trans-Atlantic ties, conservative lawmaker Andreas Nick told DW on Saturday.

The comments come after the Wall Street Journal, Der Spiegel magazine, and the Reuters news agency all reported that the US is preparing to cut down its German contingent. Some 34,500 US troops are currently stationed in Germany. The transfer is reportedly due to Germany not investing enough money into its defense.

Read more ....

More News On Germany's Reaction To President Trump's Decision To Withdraw 9,500 US Soldiers

Trump’s Troop Plan Stuns Germany and Rocks the Postwar Order -- Bloomberg
'It's complicated', German minister says of ties with U.S. -- Reuters
'Regrettable': Germany reacts to Trump plan to withdraw US troops -- The Guardian
Merkel allies criticize Trump decision to cut U.S. troops in Germany -- Reuters
German officials call US troop withdrawal a ‘wake-up call for Europeans’ & chance to loosen ties -- RT

President Trump Orders Almost 10,000 US Soldiers Out Of Germany By September

President Donald Trump takes a selfie with US troops at Ramstein airbase, Germany in December 2018 [File: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]

DW: Trump orders US troop reduction in Germany — report

The US president wants almost 10,000 US soldiers assigned out of Germany by September, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move is reportedly down to Germany not increasing its defense spending sufficiently.

US President Donald Trump on Friday told the Pentagon to reduce the number of troops stationed in Germany, a senior US official told the Wall Street Journal.

Last September, former US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell threatened such a move if Germany did not increase its defense spending.

The 9,500 soldiers slated to move would be assigned back home or to Poland and other allied nations.

The US currently has 34,500 troops in Germany. The move would cut down US troop numbers in Germany to 25,000. Around 17,000 US American employees support US troops in Germany, Reuters news agency reported.

Read more ....

More News On President Trump Ordering Almost 10,000 US Soldiers Out Of Germany

Trump orders big U.S. troop cut in Germany, official says -- Reuters
Trump orders Pentagon to remove thousands of troops from Germany: report -- The Hill
Trump administration plans to cut US troops in Germany -- CNN
Trump orders massive cut to U.S. troop numbers in Germany: report -- Military Times
Trump Plans to Withdraw Some U.S. Troops From Germany, a Key NATO Ally -- New York Times
US to remove nearly one-third of troops from Germany -- Al Jazeera
Trump plans to cut US military presence in Germany – reports -- RT