트럼프 "독일, 돈 안내서 감축한 것…더이상 호구되고 싶지않아"
The Pentagon is proceeding with President Trump's plan to move thousands of American troops out of Germany,... as part of the president's disapproval at Germany's failure to spend more on defense.
The Pentagon said it is strategically "repositioning" U.S. forces in Europe to better counter threats from Russia and China.
Lee Seung-jae has the full story.
On Wednesday,... the U.S. military unveiled its plans to withdraw about 12-thousand American troops from Germany,... in the latest development in President Trump's long-simmering clash with Berlin.
"The current USEUCOM (United States European Command) plan will reposition approximately 11,900 military personnel from Germany. From roughly 36,000 down to 24,000 in a manner that will strengthen NATO, enhance the deterrence of Russia and meet the other principles I set forth."
The U.S. defense secretary added that,... of them,... nearly 56-hundred service members will be repositioned within NATO countries,... while the rest will return to the United States,... though many of them will begin conducting rotational deployments back to Europe.
Before leaving to Texas on Wednesday,... President Trump explained Washington's reason to withdraw troops from Germany.
"We don't want to be the suckers anymore. The United States has been taken advantage of for 25 years both on trade and on the military. We are protecting Germany. So we're reducing the force because they're not paying their bills, it's very simple. They're delinquent."
Esper noted that only a relatively small number of advanced units would be moved in the beginning,... considering it would take years to fully implement the withdrawal process,... in part given the potentially billions of dollars in additional cost.
The move is also set to irk not just Germany,... but China and Russia,.. as the Pentagon noted that the latest move was part of its plans to strategically "reposition" U.S. forces in Europe to better counter threats from Beijing and Moscow.
The current plans leaves about 25-thousand troops in Germany,... but it's unclear if the plan would remain intact if Trump is not reelected in November.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
