US President Donald Trump said he did not understand why his country should defend Germany from Russia. So he commented on the withdrawal of a part of the US military contingent from Germany.
“Germany pays Russia billions of dollars a year for energy, and we have to protect Germany from Russia? What is it all about?” – reads Trump’s Twitter.
The American leader, apparently, already in parting reproached Germany for non-repayment of 2% of its contributions to NATO. He called this reason the main one for the withdrawal of the contingent.
On the eve of the head of the military department Mark Esper announced on Wednesday the withdrawal of 11.9 thousand American servicemen from Germany: 6.4 thousand will go home, about 5.6 thousand will be transferred to Italy and Belgium. At the same time, another 25 thousand NATO troops remain in Germany.
Esper previously banned the use of Confederate army flags on US military installations. He posted a memorandum on Twitter.