Top Republicans express concern over Trump plan to withdraw troops from Germany

May 2 (Reuters) - Two top ‌Republican lawmakers ​expressed ​concern on Saturday about the Pentagon's decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany.

Here are some details:

• "We ‌are very concerned by the decision to withdraw a ⁠U.S. brigade from Germany," U.S. Senator Roger Wicker and U.S. Representative Mike ‌Rogers said in a joint ‌statement.

• Wicker, a Republican elected from Mississippi, and Rogers, from Alabama, chair the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, respectively.

• ​Their statement was issued a day after the Pentagon announced the withdrawal and said the move was expected to ⁠be completed over the next six to 12 months.

• U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened ​a drawdown in forces earlier this week after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on ​Monday the Iranians were humiliating the ‌U.S. in talks to end the two-month-old war and that he did not see what exit ⁠strategy Washington was pursuing.

• Wicker and Rogers said that any significant change to the U.S. military's presence in Europe must be reviewed and ⁠coordinated with Congress and U.S. allies.

• "We expect the Department to engage with its ​oversight committees in the days and weeks ahead on this decision and its implications for U.S. deterrence and transatlantic security," they said in the ‌statement.

• Even if NATO allies raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, building the capabilities to ‌take over conventional deterrence will take time, and prematurely cutting U.S. ⁠forces in Europe "risks undermining ‌deterrence and sending the ​wrong signal to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin," they said in the statement.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil, editing by Ross ‌Colvin/Keith Weir)

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