FT: Europe demands clarifications from US over troop deployments

European allies plan to seek concrete clarification from the United States regarding troop deployments during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden on May 21–22, the Financial Times reported, citing diplomatic sources.

The outlet said NATO allies are frustrated that the current US administration has still not clarified when and from where it plans to withdraw troops stationed in Europe.

Sudden decisions regarding Germany and Poland have highlighted the issue.

The United States has decided not to deploy a 4,000-strong brigade to Poland as part of a rotation and is also planning to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.

“What is problematic for us is that it is so unpredictable and comes as a surprise, and in the context of Germany it is presented as a punishment,” one source told the newspaper.

NATO diplomats noted that Washington will have opportunities to communicate its intentions at various meetings, including the alliance’s annual summit in July, but there are no guarantees that the US will disclose its plans.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov