{"id":2598738,"date":"2026-05-04T19:47:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T23:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/europe-got-the-message-from-trump-troop-drawdown-nato-chief\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T19:48:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T23:48:19","slug":"europe-got-the-message-from-trump-troop-drawdown-nato-chief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/europe-got-the-message-from-trump-troop-drawdown-nato-chief\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe got the &#8216;message&#8217; from Trump troop drawdown: NATO chief"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Feurope-got-the-message-from-trump-troop-drawdown-nato-chief%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2598738&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>European leaders are reacting to the U.S. decision to reduce American troops in Europe, saying the timing came as a surprise but that it reinforces a message: NATO allies in Europe must \u201cdo more\u201d to strengthen the alliance\u2019s European pillar.<\/p>\n<p>The troop drawdown follows President Donald Trump\u2019s push to cut deployments in germany by 5,000 troops,with further cuts hinted at publicly. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said Europe has \u201cheard a message,\u201d and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-and-south-korea-open-to-expanded-military-drills\/\" title=\"U.S. and South Korea Open to Expanded Military Drills\">leaders emphasized<\/a> that U.S. forces protect both European and American interests,not just Europe\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had recently criticized Iran and drew fallout in U.S.-German relations, denied the reduction was directly caused by his remarks and argued the stationing of troops had been temporary and under discussion for some time. Still, he acknowledged constraints on U.S. weapons support, noting there may be limited ability to supply certain systems such as Tomahawks. Germany is also preparing naval deployments linked to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p>Other European leaders offered cautious reactions. Britain\u2019s Keir Starmer said some alliances have not matched expectations, while Italy\u2019s Giorgia Meloni argued Italy has fulfilled its NATO commitments and said she personally woudl not agree with reducing troops in Italy. The article notes Italy and Spain are potential next candidates for U.S. reductions, and that Meloni may have an prospect to press her case with Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his upcoming trip.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/europe\/\">European leaders<\/a> have found fresh enthusiasm for upholding Europe\u2019s role in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nato\/\">NATO<\/a> after the United States announced it would be reducing its troops on the continent.<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump made good on his threat to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4552195\/us-cut-5000-troops-germany-trump-merz-feud\/\">reduce U.S. troops in Germany<\/a> after Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested Iran was \u201chumiliating\u201d the global superpower, removing 5,000 military personnel from the country\u2019s bases and promising further slashes.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4551271\/trump-pentagon-push-artificial-intelligence-first-force\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Understanding the Pentagon\u2019s push to become an \u2018AI-first fighting force\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4553840\/us-sinks-six-iranian-small-boats-conflict-heats-up\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>US sinks six Iranian small boats as conflict heats up<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4553438\/pakistan-facilitated-transfer-iranian-crew-vessel-seized\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pakistan facilitated transfer of Iranian crew from vessel seized by US forces<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The announcements came ahead of European Union leaders gathering in Yerevan, Armenia, for a European Political Community summit. Several leaders echoed each other in expressing shock and emphasizing that EU members of NATO must \u201cdo more\u201d to hold up their side of the alliance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-rutte\/\">NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte<\/a> believes \u201cthe Europeans have heard a message.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere has been talk about withdrawing U.S. troops from Europe for a long time,\u201d Kaja Kallas, top diplomat for the European Union, said on Monday. \u201cBut of course, the timing of this announcement comes as a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talk prior to a meeting on the situation in Ukraine during the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, on Monday, May 4, 2026. (Sean Kilpatrick\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Pentagon put forward the troop reduction on Friday. Trump ramped up the pressure on Saturday evening, telling the press, \u201cWe are going to cut way down, and we\u2019re cutting a lot further than 5,000.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it shows that we have to really strengthen the European pillar in NATO and we really have to do more,\u201d Kallas said. \u201cAmerican troops are not in Europe only for protecting European interests, but also American interests.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Asked if the move was meant as punishment for Merz\u2019s comments last month, Kallas said, \u201cI don\u2019t see into the head of President Trump, so he has to explain it himself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a plenary session at the summit that it is obvious \u201csome of the alliances that we have come to rely on are not in the place we would want them to be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also drew attention to how the financial turmoil caused by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\" type=\"link\" id=\"washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> closure will \u201cplay out with our electorates in all of our countries.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Merz, meanwhile, has been doing his best to recover from the damage caused to U.S.-German relations by his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4544157\/german-chancellor-us-humiliated-iran\/\">comments to students at a local school<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with broadcaster ARD, the German chancellor said he and Trump \u201chave conversations at somewhat longer intervals but fairly regularly,\u201d though \u201cnot in the past week.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">German Chancellor Friedrich Merz talks with President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He dismissed the notion that the troop reduction was caused directly by his words, saying they had been stationed there on a \u201ctemporary basis\u201d by former President Joe Biden and their \u201cwithdrawal has been discussed for quite some time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Merz, however, admitted that a Biden-era commitment to furnishing Germany with Tomahawk missiles might not pan out if relations continue as they have.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs I see it at the moment, objectively speaking, there is hardly any possibility of the U.S. supplying weapons systems of this kind,\u201d\u00a0Merz said. \u201cThe Americans themselves don\u2019t have enough at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He lamented that his commentary on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4549379\/trump-warns-merz-stop-interfering-iran-focus-broken-germany\/\">caused such bad blood<\/a> but maintained that he must speak honestly about the challenges presented by the conflict. He only wondered if he could have conveyed his message more amicably.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I see such reactions, I ask myself what I could have said better,\u201d he reflected. \u201cI\u2019ll say it better next time. But I won\u2019t say something different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Merz nevertheless affirmed that he is \u201cnot giving up on working on the trans-Atlantic relationship\u201d nor \u201cgiving up on working with Donald Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The German Defense Ministry announced on Monday that it is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-navy-deploys-vessel-to-help-evacuate-americans-in-sudan-report\/\" title=\"US Navy Deploys Vessel To Help Evacuate Americans In Sudan: Report\">moving naval assets<\/a> into position as it hopes to \u201cmake a significant and visible contribution within an international coalition to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The German Embassy in Washington, D.C., <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GermanyinUSA\/status\/2051329847880798662\">said<\/a> the <em>FGS Fulda<\/em>, a mine-hunting vessel, is \u201cdeploying to the Mediterranean to be forward-positioned to join a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz when the conditions are met.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cargo ships, including bulk carriers and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >general cargo vessels<\/a>, sit at anchor offshore as a small motorboat passes in the foreground, in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, May 4, 2026. (Amirhosein Khorgooi\/ISNA via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Trump has not yet announced any other countries that might be seeing a reduction in U.S. troops, but <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4550270\/trump-weighing-troop-drawdown-italy-spain\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/saturday-october-9th-2021\/\" title=\"Saturday | October 9th, 2021\">prime candidates<\/a> are Italy and Spain<\/a>, two countries that the White House has resented for perceived failures to back them against Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told reporters on Monday that reducing troops in Italy is a \u201cdecision that doesn\u2019t depend on me\u201d but is one that she \u201cpersonally would not agree with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cItaly has always fulfilled its obligations, always doing so within the framework of NATO, even when our direct interests were not at stake, as in Afghanistan and Iraq,\u201d Meloni explained. \u201cI do not consider some of the things that were said about us to be correct.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She added that leaders \u201cmust work to strengthen NATO\u2019s European pillar, which must clearly complement the American one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4551571\/trump-warns-iran-striking-vessels\/\">TRUMP WARNS IRAN WILL BE \u2018BLOWN OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH\u2019 IF US VESSELS HIT IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Meloni may have a chance to plead her case when she meets with Secretary of State Marco Rubio later this week. <\/p>\n<p>Rubio is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4553618\/rubio-visit-vatican-trump-pope-leo-spat\/\">traveling to Rome<\/a> for a meeting with Pope Leo XIV and is expected to double up with the Italian government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>European leaders renew NATO support as Trump cuts U.S. Germany troops<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2598739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26124434483834-e1777932504381.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[32319,8447,51366,50459,79103],"class_list":["post-2598738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-donald-trump","tag-europe","tag-european-defense","tag-nato-2","tag-troop-drawdown"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26124434483834-e1777932504381.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598738"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2598742,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598738\/revisions\/2598742"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2598739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2598738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2598738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}