International Desk: US President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to withdraw 9,500 American troops from bases in Germany.
He accused Germany of being “delinquent” in its payments to Nato, and said he would stick with the plan unless Berlin changed its course.
Trump has long complained that European members of Nato should spend more on their own defence.
Germany's ambassador to the US said US troops were not there to defend Germany but defend transatlantic security.
Emily Haber added that Berlin had been informed of the plan, BBC reported.
He also claimed that Germany was profiting from having the troops there because soldiers spent their money in the country.
Germany currently hosts by far the largest number of US forces in Europe, followed by Italy, the UK and Spain.
Some US personnel based in Europe support non-Nato operations and US military numbers fluctuate as forces are rotated in and out of Europe.
