Why Trump’s Impulsive Troop Withdrawal From Germany Makes Us Less Safe

When German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced she would not be attending the G-7 meeting scheduled in June at President Trump’s Mar-a-Largo resort citing health concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, Trump was reportedly furious. He had wanted to stage the summit to highlight his foreign policy credentials hoping to enhance his re-election efforts. Merkel, who has a strained relationship with Trump over his past and persistent criticism of America’s European allies, would have none of it. Without Europe’s leading politician’s participation, the event was cancelled. It may be rescheduled sometime later this year.

As he is wont to do, Trump took personal umbrage at Merkel’s decision by impulsively responding in a not too well thought out fashion. In an effort to get even, Trump announced on June 15 that he would pull 9,500 U.S. troops out of Germany reducing the total number to 25,000.

This significant troop reduction of U.S. forces in Germany came as a surprise to German and NATO leaders neither of whom was notified in advance. Apparently Trump even made the decision without any prior discussion with our own military leaders at the Pentagon. Trump’s national security advisor, Robert O’Brien, writing after the fact, disclosed the Secretary of Defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff “are working diligently to provide the president with options to carry out the plan.” In other words, they were caught flat-footed by the president who dreamed this up by himself.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the president “acknowledged that the cuts are intended to be a punitive measure against Germany for failing to spend” what Trump believed it should on its military. In reality, this was just a handy excuse to use regarding an ongoing issue. What really changed was Merkel’s refusal to come to Florida to pay homage to the NATO divider-in-chief.

It’s doubtful that Trump gave any consideration on how his decision might impact our own national defense. If he had, he would know that out of Germany, the U.S. coordinates its deployments across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It also includes important drone operations.

Trump’s response was a bridge too far even for some congressional Republicans. The most vocal was Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry, Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee, who expressed his concerns in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. After a review of America’s post World War II leadership, Thornberry, who has announced his retirement
from congress, characterized Trump’s troop withdrawal decision as a lose-lose proposition:

“Perhaps most concerning is the signal that such withdrawals would send to allies and adversaries alike. Stepping back from NATO would encourage Russia to be more aggressive, and it would discourage Europeans from taking a stronger role in their own defense.”

The Congressman took note of reports the Trump administration is also considering troop withdrawals from other parts of the world, that if true, “would be one of the most significant retreats from the decisions made after World War II that have done so much for U.S. security and for world prosperity.” He added there is “no substitute for American leadership” and cautioned “authoritarian states are waiting to take advantage,” if we withdraw.

Implicit in Thornberry’s wake up call to fellow Republicans is that once again, a Trump decision empowers Russian president Vladimir Putin while weakening America’s defenses.

We rightly revere those who fought and died in WWII, referring to them as our Greatest Generation. How short sided it would be if we allow Trump’s personal vendetta to throw away what they accomplished. A march to the White House by the bipartisan congressional leadership is necessary to stop the withdrawal before it begins.
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Tom Coleman is a former Republican Member of Congress from Missouri and has served as an adjunct professor at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and at American University.  He was co-founder and Chairman of the Congressional Study Group on Germany and the recipient of the Commander’s Cross Order of Merit from the President of Germany.

Photo Credit: Michael Abrams/Stars & Stripes