BREAKING: @DeptofDefense announces it is pulling 11,900 US troops from #Germany
Per @EsperDoD, 5600 will reposition to @NATO countries, 6,400 troops headed back to US
MORE: 2,000 troops will reposition to #Belgium to HQ, other wills reposition to #Italy
another 4,500 troops will do rotations to #BlackSea region
about 2,500 airmen in #Britain now to remain there, under @DeptofDefense plan
"We're posturing our forces to deter aggression and counter their malign influences" per @thejointstaff Vice Chair Gen. John Hyten, referring to #Russia #China
Congress will be consulted on any re-deployments, per @thejointstaff Vice Chair Gen. John Hyten
"Vigilance in respect to great power competition is an absolute imperative" per @US_EUCOM Commander Gen Tod Wolters, praising plan to reposition troops and EUCOM commander HQ from #Germany to #Belgium
NEW: @USAfricaCommand HQ could be moved from #Stuttgart #Germany to another location to be determined, per @US_EUCOM Commander Gen Tod Wolters
All the moves will help maintain peace/bring peace to #Europe and "enhance the US's effectiveness in great power competition" per @US_EUCOM's Gen Wolters
Changes to US troop deployments to #Europe, withdrawal of 11,900 troops to #Germany will cost "several billion dollars...spread out over time" per @EsperDoD
Changes will go into effect in a "matter of weeks" per SecDef Esper, adding "it requires diplomacy"
#Stuttgart #Germany will be area most impacted by the changes - "I had a good conversation last week w/the #German defense minister" per @EsperDoD
Per @EsperDoD, the repositioning of US forces will allow for a "more enduring presence" in areas like the #BalckSea, "gives us a lot more flexibility"
"It dramatically improves our operational capability" per @US_EUCOM's Gen Wolters
Per @thejointstaff Vice Chair Gen Hyten, cost estimates still "rough" and DoD officials will have to work now to get to the actual costs/numbers
"To Pres. Trump's credit...We've seen an increase in defense spending by @NATO" per @EsperDoD, adding "#Germany is the wealthiest country in #Europe. Germany can&should pay more to its defense"
But Esper denies US moving troops to punish Germany
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