The timing of the announcement by the United States of its planned drawdown of 5,000 troops from Germany came as a surprise, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.
“The timing of this announcement comes as a surprise. I think it shows that we really have to strengthen the European pillar in NATO, and we have to really do more,” said Kallas, speaking as she arrived at a European Political Community summit in Armenia.
“The American troops are not in Europe only for protecting the European interests, but also the American interests,” she added.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said today that European countries have “received a message” from US President Donald Trump and are now working to ensure that agreements relating to the use of military bases are implemented.
Rutte told reporters on the sidelines of a European political community summit in Armenia, “Yes, there was some resentment from the American side, but the Europeans listened,” according to news reports.
