The Trump administration is openly moving to retaliate against European allies on both security and trade fronts after they largely ignored Washington's calls for contributions to the war against Iran.
The administration decided to reduce US troops stationed in Germany, which took an uncooperative stance while criticizing President Donald Trump's conduct of the war with Iran, and announced tariff hikes on passenger cars and trucks produced in the European Union (EU).
According to Yonhap News on Tuesday (local time), the US Department of Defense (Department of War) plans to reduce its troop presence in Germany by about 5,000 under the direction of Secretary Pete Hegseth.
US Forces Germany currently numbers about 35,000 to 36,000 troops. The planned cut of roughly 14% at this strategic stronghold against Russia will be completed within six to 12 months.
The announcement came just two days after Trump said on Oct. 29 that "the United States is looking at the possibility of reducing forces in Germany" and that "a decision will be made soon."
Trump did not rule out the day before the possibility of reducing US troops stationed in other European countries that were uncooperative or critical of the Iran war, including Italy and Spain.
Trump also said Tuesday that he would raise tariffs on EU-made passenger cars and trucks to 25% starting next week.
This amounts to restoring tariffs on passenger cars and trucks to their pre-deal level (27.5% including the base tariff) before the trade agreement reached between the US and the EU on July 27 last year.
Under that agreement, the EU agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of US energy and military equipment and make an additional $600 billion in investment, in exchange for the US cutting its reciprocal tariff to 15% and lowering item-specific tariffs on autos and other goods to 15% across the board.
Trump cited "the fact that the EU is not complying with the trade agreement we fully agreed upon" as grounds for the measure.
But the move to effectively take retaliatory measures in the security arena on top of trade, given recent tensions between the US and Europe, is interpreted as reflecting Trump's underlying dissatisfaction with the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Trump had expressed disappointment, saying he would "remember" that major European member states of the transatlantic military alliance NATO had rejected requests to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington is using the security umbrella it provides to Europe and price competitiveness in the US market (through tariffs) as "weapons" to apply intense pressure on its European allies.
Against this backdrop, attention is turning to how Asian allies such as South Korea and Japan, which Trump had asked to send troops to Iran, will be affected.
South Korea and Japan have joined international efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz but have taken a cautious stance on Trump's troop dispatch request. It effectively amounts to non-compliance.
Trump has in fact repeatedly mentioned the security contributions of US troops stationed in South Korea and Japan when expressing disappointment with allies over the Iran war.
It is understood that tensions between the Trump administration and South Korea and Japan have not yet escalated to the same level as with Europe.
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said on Oct. 30, shortly after Trump's remarks first hinting at a troop withdrawal from Germany, that "there have been no discussions whatsoever between South Korea and the US on reducing US Forces Korea."
However, given Trump's impulsive and unpredictable nature, Seoul cannot rest easy, and its diplomatic and trade channels are closely monitoring developments.
