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Saturday, May 2, 2026
US troop drawback underscores European defense responsibility, German defense minister says
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German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Yokosuka Naval Base on March 22, 2026, in Yokosuka, near Tokyo.(David Mareuil/Pool Photo via AP)
Europeans must take greater responsibility for their own security, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius says in response to the announcement of plans to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany.
“Germany is on the right track” in this regard, Pistorius says, pointing to the expansion of its Bundeswehr armed forces, greater and faster procurement of equipment and the construction of infrastructure.
“It was foreseeable that the US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany,” he says.
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