Europeans have “heard” US President Donald Trump’s message of frustration over the Iran war and are “stepping up”, NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Monday after Washington announced it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
“European leaders have gotten the message. They heard the message loud and clear,” Rutte said before talks with European leaders in Armenia, acknowledging “disappointment on the US side” faced with European allies’ resistance to joining the war.
“Europeans are stepping up, a bigger role for Europe and a stronger NATO,” Rutte insisted ahead of a European Political Community meeting dominated by the twin security threats posed by the Ukraine and Middle East wars.
“We have seen all these countries now participating with their bilateral agreements making sure that when it comes to basing requests and all the logistical support,” Rutte said.
The Pentagon troop move comes with transatlantic ties badly strained over the Middle East war – although German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted Sunday there was “no connection” with his recent spat with Trump over the conflict. AFP
