US military withdrawal from Germany: Trump settles scores with Europe

The main news this Saturday is not about the conflict between Tehran and Washington, but one of its consequences, namely the emerging crisis between Europe and the United States, which is considering significantly reducing its military presence in Germany.

Washington indeed plans to withdraw about 15% of the 36,000 troops stationed in Germany, or nearly 5,000 soldiers, a withdrawal that the Pentagon estimates can be completed in the "next six to twelve months," according to its spokesperson, Sean Parnell.

This plan, announced by the Pentagon, would thus be the first consequence of the showdown between the American president, Donald Trump, and the NATO countries, whom the latter has repeatedly criticized for their passivity in the war that has pitted him against Iran since February 28.

Donald Trump expressed his annoyance with the German chancellor this week, after a heated exchange between them regarding the war in Iran. On Friday, he also criticized Italy and Spain for the same reason.

Could the withdrawal of American troops from Germany be the first step towards a total American disengagement from the Atlantic Alliance? It is still premature to answer this question.

Because, while Berlin took note on Saturday of the American decision and called on Europe to strengthen its security, NATO intends for its part to talk with Washington to "better understand" it.

According to the Wall Street Journal, this decision surprised several European countries, and even some American military officials who did not think the American president would carry out his threats. Germany, however, seemed to expect it, as announced by the German Defense Minister. "That United States troops would withdraw from Europe and also from Germany was expected," commented Boris Pistorius.

"We Europeans must take more responsibility for our security," he added.

NATO, for its part, is "working" with the United States to "better understand" Washington's decision, an alliance spokesperson said on Saturday.

Donald Trump came to this announcement after Chancellor Friedrich Merz estimated on Monday that "the Americans clearly (had) no strategy" in Iran and that Tehran was "humiliating" the world's leading power.

"He thinks it's OK for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. He doesn't know what he's talking about!" Donald Trump retorted on Tuesday.

Without responding directly, Friedrich Merz called on Thursday for "a reliable transatlantic partnership."

On Friday, Donald Trump also said he was considering a reduction in American troops stationed in Italy and Spain, considering that Rome "has been of no help" to Washington and that Madrid "has been obnoxious."

He also indirectly attacked Germany and its significant automobile exports by announcing his intention to raise tariffs on vehicles imported to the United States from the European Union to 25% "next week."

An American disengagement from NATO would, however, have disastrous consequences for Europe on both the defense and financial fronts. The United States is the main funder of the Alliance. Its withdrawal from it would force member countries to review their defense strategy, particularly in the nuclear field, and to release colossal sums to compensate for a possible end to the American financial windfall and defense equipment.

This development came as efforts for a resumption of talks between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad remain stalled, with Donald Trump stating on Friday that he is not satisfied with the new Iranian proposals.

Resumption of the war?

This standstill primarily raises fears of a resumption of military conflict, deemed very likely by Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy inspector of the Khatam Al-Anbiya armed forces command, quoted by the Fars news agency.

According to him, the Iranian armed forces are perfectly prepared for any new American attack, while the American president seems instead to favor economic pressures, through the blockade imposed on American ports.

These remain less costly than the military option for the United States, but ruinous for Iran, which suffers from a high inflation rate and whose oil trade is literally blocked.

Tehran, whose oil depots are already saturated, has moreover begun to reduce its oil production.

Meanwhile, its supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, urged the country's companies in a written message to avoid layoffs as much as possible.

Faced with the deadlock, some analysts do not rule out the possibility that the Iranians might try to break the American siege through a military operation that would disrupt Washington's plans, just as Donald Trump had reassured Congress that the war is over and that he is preparing to impose a "long" blockade on Iranian ports.

"The ball is currently in the United States' court. We have presented them with a plan to permanently end the war," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced on Saturday. "They must choose between the path of diplomacy or the continuation of a confrontational approach. Iran, in order to guarantee its national interests and security, is prepared for both options," he added before ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in the Iranian capital.

War of words and images in Lebanon

On the Lebanese front, the abject campaign led by Hezbollah's electronic army against the head of the Maronite Church, Patriarch Bechara Rai, has somewhat overshadowed the violence of the exchanges of fire between Israel and this militia in southern Lebanon, where, according to the Ministry of Health, at least 41 people have been killed in less than 24 hours.

Ali Barakat, nicknamed the "Hezbollah singer," posted humiliating images of the patriarch on his X account, supposedly in response to a caricatural video of the militia leader, Naim Qassem, published by the LBCI channel.

The images, meant to illustrate the patriarch's subjugation to Israel, were quickly relayed by supporters of Hezbollah on social media, sparking fiery reactions in Lebanon.

The campaign was strongly denounced by many officials, notably the Presidents of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, and of the Parliament, Nabih Berri, as well as by the Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian.

At the same time, a caricatural portrait of President Aoun, depicting him as an Israeli rabbi, continued to be widely relayed on social media. A behavior that ultimately reflects the total bankruptcy of a group which, to mask its inability to put forward the slightest sensible argument for the suicidal adventure into which it has dragged the country, and for its rejection of the authorities' efforts to end the spiral of violence for which it bears responsibility, falls back on smear campaigns, threats, and accusations of treason.