Our Magazine
Brussels Morning Online Newspaper
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Online Newspaper
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Online Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
Home In Depth Ambassador’s Corner

On the US Troop Withdrawal from Germany

Ambassador Tedo Japaridze by Ambassador Tedo Japaridze
10 September 2020 - Updated on 12 October 2020
in Ambassador’s Corner, Features
On the US Troop Withdrawal from Germany
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

(Washington – Brussels Morning) When the Trump Administration announced the withdrawal of US troops from Germany, it became apparent that the Euro-Atlantic community is experiencing a profound transformation. To address the significance of this development, Ambassador Japaridze talks to Lieutenant General Frederick Benjamin Hodges, who served as commanding general of the United States Army in Europe. Like most of the American career-officers of his generation, he has spent several years in Germany. 

Lieutenant General Frederick Benjamin Hodges. 

The announcement on 29 July by the US Secretary of Defense, the VCJCS, and COMEUR that the White House is to withdraw up to 12,500 US Soldiers and Airmen from Germany was in fact a concept brief and not a plan.  It appears that the planning will take months and the execution will take years.  My estimate is that what actually ends up happening will bear little resemblance to what was initially briefed.

The press briefing on 29 July, with its lack of detail, also confirmed that the Administration’s decision was not the result of strategic analysis or a coordinated, inter-agency process.  All of the analysis is now being done ‘’post hoc’’. It was a purely political calculation without any appreciation or care for the damage to US capability in Europe…and a gift to the Kremlin which has done not one single thing to merit a 30% reduction in US capability in Germany. 

Russia has not improved or changed its behaviour anywhere…and in the face of that we are giving up capabilities essential to effective deterrence and rapid reinforcement as well as operations in three different theatres (Europe, Africa and the Middle East).

But I do know that there are really good, smart people in the Pentagon and in the HQ’s in Germany who will lay out the challenges and risks and lost capabilities and come up with means to mitigate those risks…and a timeline in which to do it.  They’ll do their best.  At the end of the day, the Administration will have to own the risk they’ve created with these decisions…but it’s unlikely that they (or any Administration) would say that so clearly.

The good news is that the legislative efforts included in the Senate’s NDAA inputs will require the Administration/Pentagon to demonstrate all of the outcomes this statement claims the proposal will accomplish.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Tags: GermanyUS Secretary of DefenseUS TroopWithdrawal
Ambassador Tedo Japaridze

Ambassador Tedo Japaridze

Latest post

Now the Digital Markets Act is here, could this be what tames big tech?

Now the Digital Markets Act is here, could this be what tames big tech?

2 hours ago
Pandemic‌ ‌to‌ ‌set‌ ‌French‌ ‌finances‌ ‌back‌ ‌€424bn‌ ‌over‌ ‌three‌ ‌years‌ ‌

Pandemic‌ ‌to‌ ‌set‌ ‌French‌ ‌finances‌ ‌back‌ ‌€424bn‌ ‌over‌ ‌three‌ ‌years‌ ‌

7 hours ago

Most Read

  • A very Georgian provokatsiya

    A very Georgian provokatsiya

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The EU’s newest member state Croatia can teach the bloc much about building strategic autonomy

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • EC to investigate €1bn worth of missing lumber in Croatian forests

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Salmond’s strategic masterstroke

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Vaccine export bans won’t help the fight against Covid-19, says Pfizer

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Subscribe
Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn

About Us

Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Category

  • Ambassador’s Corner
  • Commission
  • Council
  • Culture and Society
  • Diplomacy
  • Economy
  • EU Institutions
  • Europe
  • Europe With Transparency
  • Features
  • In Depth
  • Member States
  • Middle East Eye
  • Opinion
  • Our pick
  • Parliament
  • Place de la Bourse
  • Southeast Europe
  • Sustainable Perspective
  • The American Angle
  • The Macro-Economist
  • Uncategorised
  • US Elections
  • World

More info

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Cookies Policy
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Jobs

Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • EU Institutions
    • Parliament
    • Commission
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Member States
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • The American Angle
    • Southeast Europe
  • Magazine

Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT