US to remove 12,000 troops from Germany in move critics say is blow to NATO

The United States will bring 6,400 troops home and move an additional 5,400 troops from Germany to other countries in Europe, US defence officials announced on Wednesday.

This decision will fulfil President Donald Trump's desire to withdraw troops from Germany after he accused the country last month of being "delinquent in their payments" to the NATO security alliance.

Removing the troops from the NATO ally will be one part of a Pentagon plan that will take years to complete and cost billions of dollars. Some moves will be made in the coming months to withdraw the troops, leaving about 25,000 in Germany.

Mr Trump vocalised his desire to remove troops from Germany last month when meeting with Polish leader Andrzej Duda at the White House. He said the US would be transferring some of its troops from Germany into Poland, a shift celebrated by the country's officials.

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