US troop drawdown timing surprised EU, Kallas says

May 4, 2026, 08:11 GMT+1

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that the timing of a planned US drawdown of 5,000 troops from Germany came as a surprise.

“The timing of this announcement comes as a surprise,” Kallas said at a European Political Community summit in Armenia.

She said the move showed Europe needed to strengthen its role within NATO and “really do more.”

“The American troops are not in Europe only for protecting the European interests, but also the American interests,” she added.

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INSIGHT
Deny first, negotiate later, Tehran's familiar diplomacy
ANALYSIS
Iran managing the inflation statistic, not the inflation
ANALYSIS
China helps Iran chip away at US air superiority despite Xi’s no-arms pledge
EXCLUSIVE
Security forces seized Iran hospital, sent wounded protesters to morgue
VOICES FROM IRAN
Where steak is a dream