What would Donald Trump's withdrawal of 9,500 U.S. troops do to NATO and Europe?

President Trump’s announcement of a drawdown of American forces from Germany caught German leaders, NATO, and the U.S. Congress by surprise. There’s a bipartisan effort to prevent the White House from following through. What are the chances the U.S. troops will be moved and what’s at stake for American ties with Germany? Host Sumi Somaskanda finds out more.

Show Notes

President Trump’s announcement of a drawdown of American forces from Germany caught German leaders, NATO, and the U.S. Congress by surprise. 

There’s a bipartisan effort to prevent the White House from following through. What are the chances the U.S. troops will be moved and what’s at stake for American ties with Germany?

Host Sumi Somaskanda talks with retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe; German Coordinator for Transatlantic Affairs Peter Beyer; Deutsche Welle and NPR contributor Teri Schultz in Brussels and Berlin-based journalist Erik Kirschbaum.

This show was produced by Monika Müller-Kroll and Sumi Somaskanda.

What is Studio Berlin?

"Studio Berlin" is KCRW Berlin's weekly current affairs show delving into recent events and how they affect people in Germany's capital and beyond. Once a week, hosts Sumi Somaskanda and Sylvia Cunningham talk to experts, journalists and policymakers to make sense of the news that matters.