Russia commends US decision to pull thousands of troops from Germany
By: Haley Victory Smith, Breaking News Reporter | July 30, 2020 11:58 AM
Re:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/n...s-from-germany
Russian officials said they are pleased that nearly 12,000 U.S. troops will be leaving Germany.
"The less American [soldiers] there are on the European continent, the calmer it is in Europe," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN.
About 24,000 troops will remain in the region.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said of the proposed measure in June that "such steps would undoubtedly help reduce confrontational potential and ease military and political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region." She also called the troops' presence a "vestige of the Cold War."
Critics said the move damages a strategic tool for the United States that allows the nation to respond should Russia do something egregious. The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote on Wednesday that, in making this decision, President Trump is "undermining America’s military position out of pique — moving U.S. forces to punish Germany, though many will go to countries that also aren’t pulling their weight." It added, "Mr. Trump’s erratic foreign-policy impulses remain the greatest risk of a second term."
Russia has long desired to have equal footing among other nations on the world stage. It believes that troops in Germany and the continued existence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization show that many of the world's most powerful nations still aren't ready to let it out of the metaphorical dog house.
Russia warned NATO in 2018 against developing closer ties with Georgia and Ukraine.
"Our colleagues, who are trying to aggravate the situation, seeking to include, among others, Ukraine and Georgia in the orbit of the alliance, should think about the possible consequences of such an irresponsible policy," Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Both of these nations have seen Russia encroach on their territory.
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Personal note: I suppose Trump's reply was - anything for you Pal! That's what friends are for!
Boats