Germany says U.S. troop withdrawal ‘anticipated', Spain and Italy could be next - NPR

Germany’s defense minister sought to downplay the decision to withdraw roughly 5,000 U.S. troops, calling the move anticipated while projecting calm. The NATO commander’s recent statement that further U.S. withdrawals should be expected links that decision to a broader trend of shifting burden-sharing as European allies build their own capabilities. The abruptness of Pentagon actions — including canceled deployments and ordered removals — has amplified allies’ unease and raised questions about how future reductions will be coordinated. Local reactions in towns such as Vilseck underscore the real-world economic and social consequences that additional withdrawals could cause.