Thomas Röwekamp, Chairman of the Defense Committee for the CDU, views the announced withdrawal of US troops from Europe as a major challenge, while simultaneously urging for a phased transition toward greater European responsibility.
Speaking to Politico, he insisted that Europe now needs to develop its own capabilities, stating that the focus must be on replacing American capacity as quickly as possible. However, Röwekamp conceded that this is not a short-term goal. He stressed the necessity of holding discussions with the Americans, noting that replacement cannot occur in just one or two years.
Despite the withdrawals, Röwekamp maintained that there is no need for panic, describing the situation as “definitely a solvable task”. He asserted that Europe must now “grow up politically” in defense matters. Röwekamp pointed out that Germany and its partners possess the fundamental prerequisites: “We have the technical capabilities in Europe, we have the knowledge, we have the production capacities, and we have the expertise”. The critical next step, he concluded, is translating these strengths into a shared political will.
