Trump to Cut 5,000 US Troops and Halt Weapons Supply: Security Emergency as Europe Faces a 'Nightmare'

FT Cites European Experts

Concerns are mounting that a security gap may emerge in Europe after the United States abruptly canceled its plan to deploy long-range missiles in the region. The Trump administration decided to withdraw its weapons deployment plan in tandem with a reduction of 5,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany. This decision reportedly comes amid ongoing tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war.

On March 3rd (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a summit at the White House. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

The Financial Times (FT) reported on May 3rd (local time), citing experts, that this move will leave Europe facing a security vacuum with no alternative measures. The long-range missile deployment plan was originally intended to strengthen NATO's deterrence against Russia. It is expected to take at least five years for Europe to acquire its own long-range strike capabilities.

The missiles that were to be provided included Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of over 1,500 kilometers, SM-6 ballistic missiles, and a new hypersonic weapon known as "Dark Eagle." This plan was announced at the 2024 NATO Summit. At that time, U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that this was a measure demonstrating America's commitment to European defense.

Analysts point out that Russia is likely to welcome President Trump's decision. Carlo Masala of the Bundeswehr University Munich stated, "Trump's message sends a signal to the Kremlin (Russia) that the United States is stepping back from its central role as Europe's security guarantor," adding, "This was already known, but now it has become apparent in terms of real capabilities as well."

The main issue is uncertainty. The U.S. Department of Defense reportedly has not provided a clear schedule for withdrawing other key assets such as air defense, strategic transport, and satellite intelligence. According to Bloomberg, President Trump also told reporters on May 2nd that U.S. forces would be "sharply reduced," but did not specify a timeline or final numbers.

Defense officials warned FT that if further U.S. troop withdrawals from Germany take place, a defense gap will be inevitable for several years. They also noted that individual countries will face difficulties in developing their own replacement capabilities. Europe is currently pursuing the development of cruise and ballistic missiles, but most projects remain in the early stages. Experts stressed that Europe needs to reduce its dependence on the United States, stating, "Europe needs more missiles and its own independent capabilities."

Criticism is also growing within Europe itself. Ulrike Franke of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) described the signal as "very negative, essentially a nightmare," and pointed out that "NATO is essentially undermining the military gap it was trying to fill."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.