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‘We won’t let the Americans blackmail us’: German MPs lash out at US threats over NATO spending ‘If you go home, take your nukes with you!’ Top German MP taunts US threat of troop withdrawal
(about 3 hours later)
German lawmakers have fired back at threats made by the US envoy to Berlin, Richard Grenell, describing his ultimatum demanding higher defense spending as outrageous and extortionary. The US must take its nukes off German soil if it is serious about relocating troops to Poland, a top opposition MP said in a tongue-in-cheek response to a veiled ultimatum from the American envoy.
Thomas Hitschler, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), described the ambassador’s remarks as “highly problematic” and “indecent.” He added that Grenell’s criticisms of Germany’s financial contribution towards NATO do not correspond with reality. German lawmakers have reacted to threats made by the US envoy to Berlin, Richard Grenell, saying that Berlin may use the ultimatum as an opportunity to push for the withdrawal of all American assets from Germany.
Hitschler described how Pentagon officials had praised Berlin’s defense commitments during a recent visit he’d made to Washington. “The US ambassador is right: US taxpayers should not have to pay for US troops in Germany,” Bartsch said, according to the Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung. He also suggested that any potential troop withdrawal should be total and complete. “If the Americans pull out their soldiers, they also have to pull out their nuclear weapons,” he insisted.
The secretary-general of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil, went one step further, accusing Grenell of trying to bully Berlin.“We will not be blackmailed by the Americans,” he told the Augsburger Allgemeine.
The spat began earlier this week when Grenell demanded that Germany increase its defense spending, arguing that it was “really insulting to expect the US taxpayer to keep paying for over 50,000 Americans” stationed in the European country.The spat began earlier this week when Grenell demanded that Germany increase its defense spending, arguing that it was “really insulting to expect the US taxpayer to keep paying for over 50,000 Americans” stationed in the European country.
The complaint was followed by a suggestion from the US envoy in Poland, who advocated for US troops to relocate to Poland – an ally which, unlike Germany, “spends 2 percent of its GDP on NATO.” The complaint was followed by a suggestion from the US envoy in Warsaw, who advocated for US troops to relocate to Poland – an ally which, unlike Germany, “spends two percent of its GDP on NATO.”
Germany has been reluctant to involve itself in Washington’s most recent military adventures. Berlin has refused to join US- and UK-led naval patrols in the Persian Gulf, after Iran seized a British-flagged tanker in retaliation for its own oil carrier being captured by the UK near Gibraltar. Other lawmakers were also unappreciative of Grenell’s ultimatum. Thomas Hitschler, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), described the ambassador’s remarks as “highly problematic” and “indecent.” He added that Grenell’s criticisms of Germany’s financial contribution towards NATO do not correspond with reality.
Hitschler described how Pentagon officials had praised Berlin’s defense commitments during a recent visit he’d made to Washington.
The secretary-general of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil, went one step further, accusing Grenell of trying to bully Berlin. “We will not be blackmailed by the Americans,” he told the Augsburger Allgemeine.
READ MORE: US envoy fumes at Germany’s reluctance to take part in Hormuz naval mission
Germany has been at odds with its longtime strategic ally for quite some time, having been reluctant to involve itself in Washington’s most recent military adventures. Berlin has refused to join US- and UK-led naval patrols in the Persian Gulf, after Iran seized a British-flagged tanker in retaliation for its own oil carrier being captured by the UK near Gibraltar.
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