Trump Pulls Thousands of Troops from Germany, Hits EU With New Auto Tariffs

President Donald Trump on Friday escalated tensions with the European Union, with reported plans to pull thousands of U.S. military personnel from Germany and an announcement of 25 percent tariffs on imported European cars and trucks.Both decisions came amid strained relations over the Iran war, raising fresh concerns inside NATO about Washington’s long-term commitment to the alliance.US Troop Withdrawal From GermanyNewsweek obtained a statement from the Pentagon that said around 5,000 personnel would withdraw from bases in Germany as a direct result of the country's lack of support for the U.S. war in Iran and "follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground. We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months." Some troops may return to the U.S. and then be redeployed elsewhere in the world, including the Indo-Pacific region, according to CBS News, which also said that one combat team will be impacted by the withdrawal, while another battalion meant for deployment later this year will now be reassigned.The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the largest U.S> military hospital outside the U.S., would not be affected, the