Angela Merkel does not pay NATO bills, US withdraws 12,000 troops from Germany

This strategic shift, according to the Pentagon, will help restrain Russia.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that repositioning troops would strengthen NATO, will boost the blockade against Russia and improve US strategic and operational flexibility.

Out of 34,500 American soldiers, how many are deployed in Germany, about 6,400 will be sent home, while approximately 5,600 will be re-enlisted in other NATO states.

United States President Donald Trump has made public plans to reposition troops from Germany since June, even though longtime Germany has been the center of American military operations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

The decision has come after Trump has repeatedly criticised Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel for failing to meet commitments to NATO, respectively, to pay 2% gross domestic production for the military alliance.

Esper said US military personnel in Germany will be consolidated in other countries in Europe, including NATO bases in Belgium and Italy.

Reposition of air assets in Italy would bring them closer to the Black Sea region, while transferring American command structures to Belgium would help improve co-ordination with NATO command, Esper said.

He said some troops could even go to the Baltic countries.

Esper did not give any timetable for repositioning troops, but said some changes could occur within weeks, while others will take more time.