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Armin weigel
This stems from the bill for the United States defense budget, which Democrats and Republicans agreed to in both houses of Congress on Thursday (local time). It says that the United States Secretary of Defense must declare in a report to Congress whether such a withdrawal would be in the national interest of the United States. At least 120 days later, the number of US soldiers stationed in the Federal Republic should fall below the 34,500 limit.
Members of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and the Senate, which is dominated by Trump’s Republicans, agreed Thursday on the 4,500-page defense budget package for next year. After being approved by both houses of Congress in Congress, Trump must sign the bill for it to take effect.
Regarding Germany’s planned withdrawal, the draft says on page 1428 that Congress continues to label Germany as a strong NATO partner. The presence of “approximately 34,500 members of the US armed forces stationed in Germany” serves as a major deterrent to Russian military aggression and expansionary efforts in Europe. US troops in Germany are also vitally important in supporting US operations in the Middle East, Africa and Afghanistan.
No longer “as soon as possible”
The president of the United States, Donald Trump (74), announced the withdrawal of some of the American soldiers in Germany in mid-June and justified the step with what he considered too low German defense spending. A total of about 12,000 soldiers was to be withdrawn, that is, about a third of the total number of soldiers stationed in the Federal Republic.
A few weeks after Trump’s announcement, the now-dismissed US Defense Secretary Mark Esper (56) made it clear that the plans should be implemented “as soon as possible.” So far, nothing has happened about it. Locations in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate would be particularly affected.
Does Trump veto?
Trump has threatened to block the defense budget with a veto, but that has nothing to do with the debate about the withdrawal of US troops from Germany, but with a dispute over the regulation of online platforms. In the summer, Trump also threatened to veto the legislative package in the dispute over a possible renaming of military bases.
A presidential veto can be overridden with a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Defense Budget Package (NDAA) is one of a series of bills that Congress intends to pass before the end of the year. The defense budget was approved with bipartisan support for 59 consecutive years.
Republican Trump lost the presidential election on November 3 to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has so far refused to admit defeat. (SDA)
