The withdrawal of US troops from Europe will take years

The United States will withdraw more troops from Europe, but the process will take years to give allies time to develop the capabilities to replace them, NATO's top commander said today.

US Air Force General Alexus Grinkevich was speaking after the decisions of US President Donald Trump's administration to withdraw about 5.000 troops from Germany and cancel the deployment of long-range Tomahawk missiles.

European officials were surprised by the timing of the announcement of the troop withdrawal, as well as by the fact that American officials linked the decision to criticism by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the American strategy in the war with Iran.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of NATO military leaders in Brussels, Grinkevich said the decision was the only such move he knew of "in the short term" and would not affect the Alliance's ability to implement its defense plans.

European governments say they have heeded Trump's call to spend more on defense and take greater responsibility for the continent's security. But they fear that a sudden withdrawal of American troops and weapons could leave Europe vulnerable to a military attack by Russia, although Moscow denies any such intention.

Grinkevich said there will be additional withdrawals of US troops from Europe, currently around 80.000, but that this will take place as European forces are strengthened to fill the resulting void.

"As the European pillar of the Alliance strengthens, it will allow the US to reduce its presence in Europe and limit itself to providing only those key capabilities that allies cannot yet provide themselves," said Grinkevich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander.

"I can't really give you an exact timeframe; it will be an ongoing process that will take several years," he added.

Grinkevich said that Europe will take on greater responsibility for conventional defense, but that this will happen "with the continued key support of American capabilities, which are adapting."

Officials and analysts say NATO relies on the US for a number of key capabilities, such as command and control systems, satellite intelligence and communications, strategic bombers and the US nuclear umbrella.