The Wall Street Journal editorial board is condemning President Trump
Donald John Trump Governor Approval Rates Drop As COVID-19 Cases Rise Gohmert Says He Will Take Hydroxychloroquine As Treatment For Virginia Governor COVID-19, Senators Seek CDC Help With Coronavirus Outbreak In Center immigration detention MOREThe decision to withdraw nearly 12,000 soldiers from Germany, saying the move is “undermining” the president’s case that he is tougher than Democrats in Russia.
Trump announced earlier this year that the United States would withdraw a substantial portion of the Germany-based troops. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper
Mark Esper: Overnight Defense: United States To Withdraw 11,900 Soldiers From Germany | Troops Shuffle Cost ‘Several Billions’ of Dollars | Lawmakers plan to cut bread | Trump says he has not discussed the alleged rewards with Putin’s lawmakers. Trump’s plan to withdraw 11,900 troops from Germany. Don’t sink the future of the Navy MORE He said Wednesday that the Pentagon would begin displacing some 11,900 troops “in a matter of weeks,” taking US forces from 36,000 to 24,000.
“Under the din of media condemnation, it can be difficult to separate the good from the bad in President Trump’s unorthodox foreign policy,” the editorial board wrote. “Some initiatives scorned by foreign policy elites have been wise, such as withdrawing from failed arms deals. However, the Pentagon’s plan … is far from a populist coup of genius.”
The board continues to argue that the measure hurts the interests of the United States in Europe and at the same time does little to “meet the cost-saving goal,” Trump says he hopes to meet. The board notes aggression in relations between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the decision, claiming that Trump appears to be “undermining the United States’ military position.”
“Moving forces south or west on the continent is a retreat that reduces the ability of the United States to enter the theater if Russia makes a military move,” argued the editorial board, which mentions the Russian president. Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin Defense overnight: United States to withdraw 11,900 troops from Germany | Troops Shuffle Cost ‘Several Billions’ of Dollars | Lawmakers plan to cut bread | Trump says he has not discussed the alleged rewards with Putin’s lawmakers. Trump’s plan to withdraw 11,900 soldiers from Germany. If Biden wins, why do some suppose he will only serve one term? PLUSThe decision to invade Ukraine in 2014 after the Obama administration withdrew combat brigades in Germany as an example.
Trump has legitimate problems with Germany’s NATO defense commitments and his support for a Russian gas pipeline, the board noted. But she describes the troop reduction decision as “erratic” and does little to support US foreign policy.
“Expect the Kremlin to receive similar signals from President Trump’s movement,” the board added.
In June, Trump issued his decision to withdraw troops in response to Germany’s failure to honor an agreement to spend at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense. However, NATO allies agreed to reach that goal by 2024. Both Republicans and Democrats have criticized the measure, and Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) called it a “serious mistake.”
During his time in the White House, Trump has faced scrutiny from Democrats for being too soft on Putin. He faced criticism from both sides of the aisle in 2018 after doubting US intelligence about Russian electoral interference while appearing alongside the Russian president. The US intelligence community concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 elections and that it is still involved in an “information war.”
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