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May 2 (Reuters) – Two top Republican lawmakers expressed concern on Saturday about the Pentagon’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops \u200cfrom NATO ally Germany.<\/p>\n
Here are some details:<\/p>\n
\u2022 “We are very concerned \u200cby the decision to withdraw a U.S. brigade from Germany,” U.S. Senator Roger \u200bWicker and U.S. Representative Mike Rogers said in a joint statement.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Wicker, a Republican elected from Mississippi, and Rogers, from Alabama, chair the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, respectively.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Their statement was issued \u200ca day after the \u2060Pentagon announced the withdrawal and said the move was expected to be completed over the next six to \u206012 months.<\/p>\n
\u2022 U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened a drawdown in forces earlier this week after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, \u200bwho said \u200bon Monday the Iranians were humiliating \u200bthe U.S. in talks \u200cto end the two-month-old war and that he did not see what exit strategy Washington was pursuing.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Wicker and Rogers said that any significant change to the U.S. military’s presence in Europe must be reviewed and coordinated with Congress and U.S. allies.<\/p>\n
\u2022 “We expect the \u200cDepartment to engage with its oversight committees \u200bin the days and weeks ahead \u200bon this decision and its \u200bimplications for U.S. deterrence and transatlantic security,” they \u200csaid in the statement.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Even if \u200bNATO allies raise \u200bdefense spending to 5% of GDP, building the capabilities to take over conventional deterrence will take time, and prematurely cutting \u200bU.S. forces in \u200cEurope “risks undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to (Russian President) \u200bVladimir Putin,” they said in the statement.<\/p>\n
(Reporting by Ismail \u200bShakil, editing by Ross Colvin\/Keith Weir)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n