Trump troop pullout creates German long‑range strike
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- Trump plans to withdraw ~5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, potentially more, derailing the Biden‑era temporary deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM‑6 interceptors.
- Pistorius warned the pull‑out reopens a long‑range strike gap and outlined Germany’s three‑pronged response: modernize Taurus missiles, request Typhon launchers, and co‑develop the ELSA system with the UK and France.
- Müller said the European Long‑Range Strike Approach (ELSA) is progressing but gave no timeline, noting readiness depends on industrial capacity and technology development.
Why it matters: Germany loses a ready‑to‑fire long‑range strike capability, pushing it to invest billions in modern Taurus missiles and the ELSA program, while the U.S. trims troop costs but weakens NATO deterrence.
