Is Europe ready for a future without the US?
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What prompted the discussion about US troop withdrawals from Germany?
This is The Guardian.
Today, as Trump withdraws troops from Germany, is Europe ready for a future without America?
Landschule is a very unique place. I mean, it's just a small town in Germany at first glance. You've got the sort of Rhineland architecture and the sloping red roofs and these sort of 19th century buildings around.
Deborah Cole covers Germany for The Guardian, and she recently visited Landschule in the southwest of the country, which, while very German, is also very American.
You have the American fast food joints and you've got a nail salon with an American flag in front of it. They had a fun fair going when we were there, decorated with Uncle Sam. It's essentially just kind of one big welcome mat for Americans to feel part of this community. And they have been for now 81 years.
How has the American presence influenced the town of Landstuhl?
Ever since the US Army marched into the nearby city of Kaiserslautern in the spring of 1945, Americans have been woven into the fabric of life here. Of the 68,000 US military personnel stationed in Europe, around 9,000 live in Landstuhl, along with their families. So when Donald Trump announced he would be withdrawing American troops from Germany, apparently to punish the German Chancellor for suggesting his war in Iran was a mistake, dismay spread across Landstuhl.
I spoke to a high school teacher in town who compared it to like a bombshell.
I'll translate that for you. Around here we love our American, she says. Across Europe, leaders are starting to wonder what will happen if this is just the start of the American withdrawal from the continent, potentially from NATO too.
What historical context explains the US military presence in Germany?
They're increasing defence spending, reintroducing conscription, stockpiling weapons. But is it enough? From The Guardian, I'm Helen Pitt. Today in Focus, can Europe defend itself alone?
Deborah Cole, welcome to the show. Thank you for having me. It's lovely to see you.
What military facilities are located in Landstuhl and their significance?
So you're not just our Germany correspondent, but you're also an American, aren't you? So you're very perfectly placed for this episode. So thanks for being here. My pleasure. So you had a very interesting day in this town of Landstuhl last week after Trump threatened to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. Can we just start with the basics? Why are there still any American soldiers stationed in Germany?
Well, you have to kind of scroll back 81 years, you know, to the end of the Second World War.
Why are European leaders concerned about potential US troop reductions?
So at that time, you know, Germany was completely physically and morally destroyed. And the American troops led by General Patton marched into this region in March 1945 and have never left. And it's been a place... to project US power throughout a very broad region, as well as protecting European allies who are part of NATO.
And then, so over the last 81 years, when was the sort of peak for the number of troops that were stationed in Germany?
So the peak was during the Cold War. At the end of World War II, there were 1.6 million US troops, but that was a short-lived experience.
How do Germans feel about the American military presence?
And then after that, they drew down into the hundreds of thousands in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, up and through the 80s. you still had more than 250,000 US troops in Germany.
What is actually in Landstuhl when it comes to US military facilities?
Well, Landstuhl is known mainly for the medical center there, and that is the biggest U.S. hospital outside the United States. But it is part of a whole community that is part of the Kaiserslautern military community. And that includes the Rammstein Air Base, which is also enormously important for U.S.
What are the implications of Trump's troop withdrawal announcement?
military operations in Europe and military action in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and and in Africa. So the whole community taken together has about 50,000 US troops, support staff, and then families who are based there. So these are people who are not just, you know, kind of passing through, they come and they and they stay for a few years with their families.
And isn't Ramstein also important for NATO? I read that it was the sort of it acted as the command centre for military airspace surveillance for all European partners.
That's right.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What prompted the discussion about US troop withdrawals from Germany?
0:00–1:13
2
How has the American presence influenced the town of Landstuhl?
1:13–2:17
3
What historical context explains the US military presence in Germany?
2:17–2:40
4
What military facilities are located in Landstuhl and their significance?
2:40–3:08
5
Why are European leaders concerned about potential US troop reductions?
3:08–3:53
6
How do Germans feel about the American military presence?
3:53–4:33
7
What are the implications of Trump's troop withdrawal announcement?
4:33–5:09
8
How prepared is Europe for a future without American military support?
5:09–31:52