His remarks came hours after Washington announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany.
According to Tusk, the greatest threat to the transatlantic alliance does not come from external adversaries, but from its gradual internal fragmentation. The withdrawal of US troops from Germany and tensions between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are seen as warning signs of this erosion.
Tusk said that as the US, the main pillar of NATO, begins to scale back its presence in Europe, member states will be forced to confront a widening security gap. This, he noted, would weaken unity and collective defense capabilities and also compel European countries to shoulder greater responsibility for the alliance’s security.
According to data from the US Department of War, as of December 2025, more than 36,000 active-duty American troops were stationed at bases across Germany, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and about 11,500 civilian personnel. Germany also hosts the headquarters of US European Command and US Africa Command.
