{"text":[[{"start":10.85,"text":"The Pentagon said on Tuesday that it would reduce the number of US soldiers stationed in Europe to levels last seen before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine."}],[{"start":20.35,"text":"The defence department said the decision to reduce the number of brigades on the continent from four to three was “the result of a comprehensive, multi-layered process focused on US force posture in Europe”."}],[{"start":32.2,"text":"It marks the latest move by the Trump administration to pressure European allies to take more responsibility for military defence, although critics warned it would weaken Nato deterrence against Russia."}],[{"start":45.400000000000006,"text":"The announcement comes after a week of confusion after the US abruptly cancelled the planned rotation of 4,000 US troops to Poland, blindsiding officials in Warsaw."}],[{"start":55.900000000000006,"text":"Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Tuesday said the delayed deployment to Poland was temporary and came as a result of the decision to reduce the overall number of Brigade Combat Teams in Europe. "}],[{"start":67.10000000000001,"text":"He said the “final disposition” of US forces would be “based on further analysis of US strategic and operational requirements, as well as our allies’ own ability to contribute forces towards Europe’s defence”."}],[{"start":79.60000000000001,"text":"The US deployed additional troops to Europe following the Russian annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and sent more troops after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "}],[{"start":93.25000000000001,"text":"Jim Townsend, deputy assistant secretary of defence for Europe and Nato policy during the Obama administration, said the deployments “are based on our concept of the threat to Europe, and the role the US needed to play in Europe with force structure, to deter the Russians”."}],[{"start":108.10000000000001,"text":"“If we are pulling troops out willy-nilly, this pell-mell retreat, what messages does that send?” he said. "}],[{"start":114.15,"text":"During Donald Trump’s second term, US officials have sought a dramatic overhaul of the Nato alliance, urging European leaders to shoulder more responsibility for the continent’s defence. "}],[{"start":125.30000000000001,"text":"Vice-president JD Vance earlier on Tuesday said the US had not decided whether the 4,000 troops would eventually be sent to Poland. “Those troops could go elsewhere in Europe. We could decide to send them elsewhere,” he said. "}],[{"start":138,"text":"The Pentagon said earlier this month that it intended to withdraw forces from Germany, whose leader Friedrich Merz’s critical comments about Trump have caused a rift with the US. "}],[{"start":147.7,"text":"However, Trump does plan to attend the G7 leaders meeting in France in June despite these tensions, the White House confirmed on Tuesday. "}],[{"start":156.35,"text":"US General Alex Grynkewich, the most senior Nato military officer, said on Tuesday that he did not immediately expect the US to draw down more than 5,000 soldiers from its European footprint. “It’s all that I’m expecting in the near term,” Grynkewich told reporters. "}],[{"start":173.95,"text":"Alongside the 4,000 soldiers whose planned dispatch to Poland has been cancelled, the Pentagon said earlier this month it was curtailing the scheduled deployment of a battalion equipped with long-range missiles to Germany. "}],[{"start":185.85,"text":"There has been growing concern in some European capitals that Washington could decide to reduce American forces in Europe more significantly. Trump has repeatedly demanded that European countries take more responsibility for defending the continent. "}],[{"start":201.4,"text":"“We are not talking about pulling every single American troop out of Europe. We are talking about shifting some resources around in a way that maximises American security,” Vance said on Tuesday. “I don’t think that’s bad for Europe. That’s encouraging Europe to take more ownership,” he added. "}],[{"start":218.1,"text":"The Pentagon said the reduction would encourage “Nato allies to take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defence” and added that it remained in “close contact” with Warsaw. "}],[{"start":228.7,"text":"Polish deputy prime minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on social media on Tuesday that US defence secretary Pete Hegseth had confirmed in a phone call the US “commitment to Poland’s defence and security remains unchanged.” "}],[{"start":243.39999999999998,"text":"He added the Pentagon was preparing a new plan for the deployment of American forces across Europe. "}],[{"start":248.95,"text":"“The process of repositioning US Army forces and assets in Europe is ongoing but no decision has been made to reduce American military capabilities in Poland,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. "}],[{"start":270.59999999999997,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779254190_6873.mp3"}