The decision to pull 5,000 American military personnel out of Germany would appear to be more of a political slap than a strategic reassignment.
This all began when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed the view that the U.S. had no actual strategy for defeating Iran.
Said Merz: "The problem with conflicts like this is always you don't just have to get in. You have to get out again. We saw that very painfully in Afghanistan for 20 years - we saw it in Iraq."
Merz continued by stating that the U.S. was being "humiliated" by Iran’s leadership "especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards."
President Trump, not surprisingly, was not happy and next we know 5,000 troops are packing their kit bags.
Maybe it is the case that American soldiers being based in Europe is a leftover from the Cold War era.
That might have been a valid argument prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But it doesn't stand up so well now.
And for certain the withdrawal of the 5,000 will be taken note of in Moscow.
Merz might well have chosen his words more carefully.
Or perhaps he chose them very deliberately knowing that they would land heavily in the gold-leafed Oval Office.
Either way, the spat has underlined the clear and obvious tensions between the Trump administration and NATO, the EU and Europe in general.
Again, Moscow is watching and listening.
All this is taking place as Ireland prepares to take up the European Union presidency a few weeks from now.
Ireland, though not a member of NATO, is no longer able to link detachment with neutrality. Ireland is attached to Europe, the European Union and the defense of the bloc.
A few days ago Thomas Byrne, the Irish government's Minister of State at the Department of Defence, met with French Minister Delegate to the Armed Forces, Alice Rufo, for discussions on Ireland’s forthcoming presidency of the Council of the EU, UN peacekeeping and the role of UNIFIL, and, significantly, Franco-Irish cooperation.
Both ministers, according to an Irish Department of Defence release, exchanged views on the deteriorating international security situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Lebanon.
Their discussion on UNIFIL focused on the safety and security of peacekeepers serving in Southern Lebanon, and on supporting peace and stability in the region more generally.
On EU presidency priorities, Minister Byrne confirmed that security would be one of the three central pillars of Ireland’s EU Presidency in the second half of 2026, and he reaffirmed Ireland’s strong support for EU initiatives to strengthen "defence resilience."
Stated the release: "The Irish and French Ministers welcomed the strong and deepening defence relationship between Ireland and France and agreed to continue close coordination at EU and international level.
"Both Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhanced EU security and defence cooperation, including maritime security, support for Ukraine, and collaboration ahead of Ireland’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union."
A closer Irish relationship with France will dovetail with a stronger defense link with Britain. The Irish Naval Service, as currently constituted, isn't fully up to the task of dealing with potential Russian designs on the seas surrounding Ireland, and in particular the vital ocean floor cables that link North America with Europe.
Working with the Royal Navy and the Force D'action Navale will be an interesting advance for the Irish Defence Forces, neutral still - but for sure not neutralized.
