Latvia will accept more American troops after the withdrawal of US troops from Germany

Latvia has expressed its readiness to deploy an additional US contingent on its territory after Washington's decision to reduce its military presence in Germany by more than 5,000 people.

"We are conducting a number of negotiations with American allies, and they also call us an exemplary ally. Therefore, we would very much welcome such a development," Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braje said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in Brussels.

The decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to withdraw some troops from Germany has increased concerns within NATO about the continued US military presence in Europe. Against this background, the countries of the eastern flank of the alliance are seeking to attract American forces to their territory. Earlier, Poland also announced its readiness to receive additional US units.

Latvia, a member of NATO and the European Union, is considered one of Washington's most consistent allies in Europe. The republic's authorities have increased military spending to 5% of GDP. At the same time, Riga emphasizes the importance of maintaining close cooperation between the United States, Canada and European allies in the field of security. The head of EU diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, said earlier that the presence of American troops in Europe meets the interests of both the EU and the United States itself.

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On May 1, the Reuters news agency, citing the Pentagon, reported that the United States would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany within 6-12 months. It was noted that the reduction in the number of troops would allow the number of American troops in Europe to return approximately to the level that existed before 2022.

Austrian geopolitical analyst Patrick Poppel noted on May 2 that the withdrawal of US troops from Germany is perceived very positively by many Germans, but Washington's decision may be a signal for Europe.