German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (left) and U.S. President Donald Trump. [Reuters=Yonhap News]

The reduction of U.S. troops in Germany, which was once thought to be unlikely, has begun to rapidly materialize. U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed on the 2nd his directive to review the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 of the 36,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany within 6 to 12 months.

The following day, a plan to increase the European Union's (EU) tariffs on passenger cars and trucks from 15% to 10% was announced. This is another measure that would be a fatal blow to Germany. It appears that concrete retaliatory actions have begun against European allies who have consistently shown uncooperative and unfriendly attitudes regarding the situation with Iran.

Germany, finding itself in a critical situation, is working diligently to de-escalate the circumstances. First, Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the commitment to cooperation with "the most important ally, the United States." Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, "As a close ally of the United States, we in Germany share the same goal as requested by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: Iran's complete and verifiable abandonment of nuclear weapons and the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz." The intention to highlight friendship with the U.S. is evident.

Richard Grenell, a confidant and former advisor to Trump and former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, had long spoken of the need to reduce U.S. troops in Germany by 12,000. Considering Grenell's current position as Special Envoy for North Korea and the South Korean government's repeated divergent choices with the Trump administration, the possibility of changes to the U.S. Forces Korea has also increased significantly.

Germany's Misconception

On the 27th of last month, during a discussion with students at a gymnasium in western Germany, Merz stated that "the United States entered into negotiations for a ceasefire with Iran without a clear strategy," referring to it as a "humiliation for the entire United States." This statement was closer to harsh criticism without regard for facts.

In response, Trump retorted, "Focus more on fixing your own country, which is ruined by immigration and energy issues," and "The German Chancellor was completely incompetent in bringing about a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine." Local media outlet dpa reported that Merz also admitted that he was not prepared to fill the void that would be created by the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Former President Joe Biden had promised to deploy Tomahawk missiles, capable of reaching Moscow, to Germany by 2026 during the 2024 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit. This was the first such deployment since the Cold War. While there was no public opposition or support from a potential second Trump administration for this decision, media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) have reported on the possibility of its withdrawal as part of the current reduction of U.S. troops in Germany.

Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Germany, along with Korea, held a special position as the frontline of the Cold War. Although the number of U.S. troops in Germany, which approached approximately 250,000 in the 1980s, sharply declined after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it remains the largest U.S. military base in Europe. The U.S. troops in Germany symbolized how the United States viewed Europe and Europe's place within the U.S.-led world order. This structure has begun to falter.

The United States, which was inadvertently drawn into and led to victory in two World Wars, resurrected Europe through post-war security and economic aid, but this has long been considered an entitlement. True to its origins as a birthplace of communism, major European countries have strengthened non-Christian values in the name of anti-corporate and pro-environmental stances and have been complacent regarding the influx of Muslim immigrants. It is no coincidence that they are hostile towards Trump, who claims to be a protector of Christian civilization.

It might have been better to plead the difficulty of domestic affairs, stating that they were not in a position to help the United States. However, all of them distanced themselves from the U.S., criticizing it as if it were engaged in an unjust war.

From the beginning of his political career, Trump wanted to overhaul Europe's security structure, which was sustained by the money of U.S. taxpayers. To Trump, NATO members were not allies but "free riders." Merz's recent remarks have ignited this issue.

"The Problem Lies Within, Not With External Enemies"

This conflict did not arise overnight. Last February, at the historic Munich Security Conference (MSC), a clear rift in transatlantic relations (U.S.-Europe) was revealed. U.S. Senator JD Vance delivered a direct blow, stating that Europe's greatest threat is not Russia or China, but "internal collapse." Vance attributed Europe's overall crisis to the abandonment of Christian civilization values, implicitly criticizing Western Europe for no longer being a free democratic world, citing the suppression of freedom of expression, controversies over election fairness, and immigration policy issues.

At this year's MSC in February, U.S. Senator Mike Pompeo reiterated Vance's core message and demanded that Europe "align with American standards." This essentially declared that if the current state continues, Europe will not be seen as a "community of values," meaning it will be treated as a "transactional partner."

Europe has been in a structural crisis for a long time. The pursuit of political correctness (PC), such as expanded welfare, increased immigration, and controlled speech, was seen as a path to an enlightened utopia. However, with the erosion of the U.S. security umbrella and cheap Russian energy, everything has become rapidly unstable. Furthermore, with advanced scientific and technological companies nearly vanished due to various regulations, Europe is no longer prosperous or safe.

The Illusion of "Autonomy and Independence"... A Message for Korea

"The United States alone cannot manage the world." While Merz's statement itself is correct, it is also important to recognize that there is little that can be done without the United States. Military power is declining, nuclear deterrence is absent, and political decisiveness is also limited. When Germany, where even the revival of conscription faces strong public backlash, advocates for "European autonomy," it sounds highly unrealistic.

The reduction of U.S. troops in Germany is a signal for the restructuring of the European defense system. Currently, more than half of the approximately 68,000 U.S. troops in Europe are stationed in Germany. Germany has been not just an ally but a "hub" for U.S. European strategy. If this is weakened, the entire NATO alliance will lose strength.

Germany, at the end of its detached idealism and political arrogance, is now facing a "repositioning of U.S. troops." In Germany's case, we can see "the process of alliance collapse." Alliances are not maintained by words alone; a consensus on fundamental values and meanings is crucial. Germany, which has long forgotten this, is now paying the price. Korea also stands at a crossroads.

◆ Dr. Im, Myung Shin

Former Deputy Director, Sky Daily

Northeast Asia Researcher (Ph.D. in Chinese Studies)