Donald Trump orders the withdrawal of some 9,500 American troops from Germany

A senior American official has said that by this decision, the total number of US troops in Germany would be reduced to 25,000, compared to 34,500 as it currently is, writes the Guardian”, the Express broadcast.

This official said the decision is the result of the several-month job of the top US military official, General Mark Milley, and that it has nothing to do with tensions between President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who prevented the White House's plan to hold the G7 Summit this month.

Another US administration official said 9,500 troops withdrawn from Germany will be sent to other countries, including Poland and several other allied states, while part of them will return home. This official said there is less need for the military's large contingent in Germany because of NATO's increased overall spending.

The second official said this change was ordered through a memorandum recently signed by President Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien. The United States has reportedly been working on this plan since September last year.

The decision to withdraw thousands of American troops from Germany is the newest turn in reports between the two countries, which have often been strained during Trump's presidency. He has pressured Germany to increase defence spending and has accused Berlin of becoming Russia's hostage because of energy dependence on this country.