Trump’s troop drawdown jolts Europe as NATO chief says leaders got the ‘message’

[rangerrebew]

Trump’s troop drawdown jolts Europe as NATO chief says leaders got the ‘message’

By Timothy Nerozzi
Published May 4, 2026 7:24pm ET

European leaders have found fresh enthusiasm for upholding Europe’s role in NATO after the United States announced it would be reducing its troops on the continent.

President Donald Trump made good on his threat to reduce U.S. troops in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested Iran was “humiliating” the global superpower, removing 5,000 military personnel from the country’s bases and promising further slashes.
 
The announcements came ahead of European Union leaders gathering in Yerevan, Armenia, for a European Political Community summit. Several leaders echoed each other in expressing shock and emphasizing that EU members of NATO must “do more” to hold up their side of the alliance.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte believes “the Europeans have heard a message.”

“There has been talk about withdrawing U.S. troops from Europe for a long time,” Kaja Kallas, top diplomat for the European Union, said on Monday. “But of course, the timing of this announcement comes as a surprise.”

European leaders stand idle together at summit
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talk prior to a meeting on the situation in Ukraine during the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, on Monday, May 4, 2026. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Pentagon put forward the troop reduction on Friday.

  https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense/4554419/trump-europe-troops-nato-germany/

[Cyber Liberty]

Newsflash:  No, the European "leaders" have not gotten the message.  NATO is just saying they did to keep the gravy train on track.

[PeteS in CA]

Stepping back from EuroLand's refusal to help Trump's effort to end Iran's 47-year war against the US and the West and preclude Iran being able to threaten, among other regions/countries, EuroLand, consider the 80 year context of US presence across EuroLand. The US was there as a counter to potential Soviet aggression. Details might be quibbled, but between the dissolution of the USSR and its empire and Ukraine declawing and dental work of the Russian Bear, the threat that was the purpose of US presence is vastly diminished, with renewal of that threat being at least a couple of decades away, if ever.

IMO, the "need" for US presence has been mostly reduced to convenience, and the presence could be reduced significantly without consequences to EuroLand security. If a significant draw-down hurts some countries' economies, well, their leaders played a stupid game and will thereby have won a yuge stupid prize.

[Wingnut]

I watched a video of reporters talking to the locals near Ramstein Air Base.  Almost to a person they fear the economic loss that will happen when the draw down happens.  However, One socialist mentioned it would open up the tight housing supply and drive down the price of housing.  Dream on sucker.