August 11, 2026

NATO

U.S. walks out on UN meeting following France’s human rights criticism – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser August 4, 2026 0

U.S. walks out on UN meeting following France’s human rights criticism – National– globalnews.ca
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EXCERPT:

U.S. diplomats walked out as their French counterparts were speaking at the United Nations on Monday after America’s close European ally criticized the Trump administration’s human rights record.

The surprise move during a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine followed U.S. opposition to giving U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk another four-year term. The reappointment on Friday got overwhelming support, including from France.

The U.S. walkout reflects not only the more strained relations between President Donald Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, but also wider tensions between the U.S. and Europe. These include questions over Trump’s commitment to NATO, possible changes to U.S. troop deployments in Europe, and Trump’s desire to control Greenland, which belongs to NATO member Denmark.

Trump has complained that Europeans, who weren’t consulted, did not help the U.S. during the Iran war. Amid the tensions, Macron has taken a lead in trying to build up Europe’s military and ensure a nuclear umbrella as one of the continent’s two nuclear powers, along with Britain.

America’s Europe Troop Cuts Begin

pgnewser May 5, 2026 1

President Donald Trump announced a 5,000 troop cut in Germany, adding more is to come. He said, “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.”

Trump Announces Deeper U.S. Troop Cuts in Germany as Tensions With Allies Grow › American Greatness– amgreatness.com
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EXCERPT:

President Donald Trump said the United States will reduce its military presence in Germany beyond an already announced withdrawal, indicating a broader shift in U.S. defense posture in Europe.

Speaking to reporters Saturday evening, Trump said the planned reduction of roughly 5,000 troops is only the beginning. “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,” he said.

The Pentagon confirmed Friday that thousands of U.S. personnel will be pulled from bases in Germany over the next year. The move revisits a policy first pursued during Trump’s earlier term, when his administration proposed withdrawing about 9,500 troops before the plan was halted by Joe Biden after he took office.

The United States currently maintains about 36,000 troops in Germany and approximately 80,000 across Europe, making it one of the largest overseas deployments of American forces.

The decision comes amid rising friction between Washington and European allies over defense commitments and strategy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly criticized the White House’s handling of the Iran conflict, saying the United States had been “humiliated,” a remark that drew attention in Washington.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the U.S. bears an unfair share of the financial burden for Europe’s defense, particularly in Germany, while also pointing to Berlin’s economic ties with countries such as Russia and China.