Washington: The chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Service committees have voiced their concerns about the planned withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany. In a joint statement, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, two leading Republican lawmakers, expressed their apprehension about the decision to withdraw a US brigade from Germany.

According to Anadolu Agency, both lawmakers highlighted that Germany has increased its defense spending and provided critical support for US forces, aligning with President Donald Trump's call for greater burden sharing. They cautioned that reducing the US military presence in Europe prematurely could send an unfavorable message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The lawmakers noted that while European allies are working towards spending 5% of GDP on defense, allowing them to take primary responsibility will require time.

Wicker and Rogers suggested that instead of removing troops from Europe entirely, they should be redeployed to the east. They emphasized that any significant changes to the US's military posture in Europe should undergo a comprehensive review process. The announcement of the troop withdrawal was confirmed by a Pentagon spokesman on Friday, following President Trump's remarks about assessing the US military presence in Germany. The comments were made after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the US for its lack of an exit strategy in the Iran conflict.