NATO chief Mark Rutte said Europe has ‘gotten the message’ after Trump ordered the pullout of thousands of troops from Germany
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on 4 May that the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany had caught European officials by “surprise,” as tensions continue to exacerbate among NATO allies over the US-Israeli war on Iran.
“There has been talk about withdrawing US troops from Europe for a long time. But of course, the timing of this announcement comes as a surprise,” Kallas expressed on the sidelines of the European Political Community meeting in Yerevan, Armenia.
Kallas said the move showed that Europe must strengthen its own role inside NATO.
“I think it shows that we have to really strengthen the European pillar in NATO and we really have to do more,” she said.
“American troops are not in Europe only for protecting European interests, but also American interests.”
The Pentagon announced the withdrawal on Friday, with US President Donald Trump later saying the troop presence in Germany would be cut “a lot further than 5,000,” according to remarks made to reporters in Florida.
The move comes as Trump accuses NATO allies of failing to do enough in support of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said European leaders have “gotten the message” from Trump following the announcement.
Speaking before the Armenia meeting, Rutte acknowledged “disappointment from the US side” and said, “European leaders have gotten the message. They heard the message loud and clear.”
“Europeans are stepping up, a bigger role for Europe and a stronger NATO,” he added.
The announcement followed tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said Washington was being “humiliated” by Iran.
Asked whether Trump was punishing Merz, Kallas said, “Well, I don’t see through the head of President Trump. So he has to explain it himself.”
European criticism of the war has grown as shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz weigh on the global economy.
Merz said the war “is costing us a great deal of money,” while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called it “unjustified” and a “dangerous military intervention” outside international law.