President Donald Trump plans to pull about 20,000 U.S. troops from Europe, according to a leading Italian news agency.
A European diplomatic source told ANSA that Trump, who entered office on Monday for a second term, wants to reduce the American contingent in Europe by about 20 percent and plans to ask for a “financial contribution” for the maintenance of the remaining troops.
As a European, I say fine and sure.
But then we also withdraw from the Plaza accords.
Ever since China has winded down their US debt holdings, we have picked up the tab and the EU countries are now the largest foreign holder of treasuries.
Time to start selling.
And also, we only buy from European defense firms, no more spending on American defense.
what people don’t understand is that europe must say goodbye to america, things are turning.
we (europe) should start considering being more independent (from the USA) and maybe, just maybe, actually talking to our eastern neighbours.
No he means Putin and Lukashenko, the real vicitms of the war in Ukraine. Everyone knows that Zelensky is no angel.
Nice suggestion. Let’s abandon our strongest ally who are in an identity chrisis for literal terrorists. Thanks, Lemmy.
Your “strongest ally” just removed 20% of its troops and wants to extort you for the other 80% in its obligations to said alliance
But then we also withdraw from the Plaza accords.
The Plaza Accord ended in 1987. It was replaced with the Louvre Accord.
The US doesn’t have troops in Europe to benefit Europe though. They have troops in Europe to benefit the US.
Europe should be totally fine with them leaving. Get off their territory, give up all that power projection and hamstring yourself.
What a weird thing to threaten.
Trump is as dumb as a bucket of shit. That’s why he’s threatening to shoot himself in the foot.
That will depend on whether Trump knows Putin has something planned for Europe now that his lapdog is in the White House
What could Putin have that could threaten Europe when he has been unable to make inroads in Ukraine for years?
I would appreciate if we could maybe not spit in the face of our allies at every available opportunity.
wants to reduce the American contingent in Europe by about 20 percent and plans to ask for a “financial contribution” for the maintenance of the remaining troops.
Eat a dick, USA. Some partner. Maybe they’ll leave late like they showed up late for WWII after waffling about which side to join.
After the door hits them in the arse on their way out, be sure to repatriate all the land for those US bases. Make them pay 300% more for the land, after this term if they want to come back.
And use whatever money is saved to bolster one’s own national military. We can’t rely on the US any more for defence.
Fair enough. The less US military presence in Europe the better. We shouldn’t be reliant on the US for our security needs. European and NATO nations need to make sure they’re pulling their weight.
European and NATO nations need to make sure they’re pulling their weight.
Which is something that every President starting with Bill Clinton has been saying but the EU has had its fingers stuck in its ears while going “La la la I can’t year you!”. They learned nothing from the Yugoslav Wars, didn’t wake up for Crimea and it took extreme clanging of the alarm bells to get them to respond to Russo-Ukrainian War.
The EU has more people than the United States with an economy well capable of providing for common defense. It’s time for them to quit faffing about and get to it. The US was never supposed to be the eternal linchpin of NATO.
Obligatory: Donald Trump is a cancer.
That’s easier said than done. We have too few people in the military and our equipment is old and sparse.
