Germany's far-right AfD demands withdrawal of US troops

BERLIN

The chairman of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Tino Chrupalla, voiced opposition to the continued stationing of US forces in Germany, local media reported Monday.

"Let's start putting this into practice—by withdrawing US troops from Germany," the daily Bild cited Chrupalla as saying in a speech at the party's conference in the eastern state of Saxony.

The AfD's platform states: "The AfD advocates for the withdrawal of all allied troops still stationed on German soil, and in particular their nuclear weapons."

Chrupalla called for a change in Germany's stance and urged the country to follow Spain's example. Governed by a socialist prime minister, Madrid has spoken out against the war waged by the US and Israel against Iran and prohibited Washington from using its military bases for that purpose.

Around 38,000 US soldiers are currently deployed in Germany. American military bases are located primarily in the southwestern state of Rhineland-Palatinate, including the strategically important Ramstein Air Base, as well as in the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the withdrawal of US troops from Germany, a possibility his administration has considered since he took office last year, according to a report published Friday.

Sources close to the administration said "the frustration we've had with the Europeans has been very real," adding that "any country that's not paying five percent shouldn't be allowed to vote on future expenditures at NATO," according to The Telegraph.