German General Breuer: Europe needs a clear US position in the military sphere
Europe would like to clearly understand the US military intentions in relation to the European continent, Chief of the German General Staff Carsten Breuer said in an interview with Bloomberg. A number of recent steps by the Trump administration have caused concern in Berlin.
Andrea Palasciano, Haslinda Amin
"Europe is in a hurry to rearm, but it needs time and a clear position from the United States," Chief of the General Staff of the German Armed Forces Carsten Breuer said in an interview with Bloomberg TV at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum.
In response to criticism from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about Europe, Breuer stated that he "does not agree" with this position. He stressed that Germany has already taken significant steps to increase defense spending and has committed to achieving the NATO target of 3.5% by 2029, six years ahead of schedule.
However, according to him, the US demands on Europe to ensure its own security create serious difficulties for the continent. "We all realized that we have to take care of our own safety, that we have to take on more responsibility, but we cannot increase the necessary capabilities so quickly," he said.
At the same time, Breuer noted that the United States remains committed to protecting Europe. According to him, the key is the availability of the necessary forces, not whether they are permanently stationed in Europe or can be quickly deployed from abroad.
"If American forces are withdrawn, we must compensate for their absence. This requires clarity, transparency and a clear action plan with a set timeframe," he said.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has caused concern in Europe by announcing the sudden withdrawal of troops from Germany. This happened against the background of growing US dissatisfaction with the policy of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The United States has also notified its allies that it will reduce strategic resources that will be sent to Europe in case of crisis or war.
China, another major participant in the Shangri-La Dialogue Forum, was represented at the event in a limited format, as it was a year earlier. According to Breuer, Beijing is "missing an opportunity" to interact with Asian countries and other states participating in the forum.
The lower-level Chinese delegation actually gave Pete Hegseth a central role at the forum.
In his long—awaited speech, Hegset did not mention Taiwan, a key flashpoint of tension between the region's two largest powers, or the war in Iran, which affects Asian energy—dependent countries.
According to Breuer, Europe's interests in the region go far beyond China. "We are here to take into account the European theater of military operations, we are also talking about Ukraine. This connection is important to us," he said.
As U.S. attention has recently focused on Iran, negotiations between Washington, Moscow and Kiev have almost reached an impasse.
