Republican concerns over US troop withdrawal
5/2/202647 min
The Republican chairmen of the US congressional armed services committees have said they're very concerned about the Pentagon's decision to withdraw five thousand troops from Germany. Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers warned that prematurely reducing America's forward presence in Europe risked undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin. NATO says it's seeking clarification from Washington about the plan.
Also in the programme: FIFA will allow a team of Afghan women refugees to represent their country in international tournaments; and we look back on the life of a former racing driver and Paralympian.
(Photo: A soldier pilots a drone during the 'Combined Resolve' exercise at 7th Army Training Command's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels. More than 3,800 personnel participate in the exercise series, which is a reoccurring U.S. Army Europe and Africa exercise held several times throughout the year for its rotationally deployed troops. US-led army exercise 'Combined Resolve' - media day, Hohenfels, Germany - 30 Apr 2026. CREDIT: ANNA SZILAGYI/EPA/Shutterstock)
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJames Kamara Sami· Host0:00
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.
Speaker 10:03
[short musical burst] Live BBC Radio is now available on bbc.com and the BBC app. Get global perspectives, rich conversation, and immediate reaction to breaking news stories wherever you are. Listen to the BBC World Service and BBC Radio four stations twenty-four seven. Visit bbc.com/audio or download the BBC app to start listening.
James Kamara Sami· Host0:27
[short musical burst] [upbeat musical jingle] Hello, and welcome to News Hour from the BBC World Service coming to you live from London. I'm James Kamara Sami. And later on in the program, more than a sporting dream come true.
Manoush Nouri· Guest0:42
It's mean a lot to us. It means we can still hope we can play in international tournament, which is great for us.
Fatima Heidari· Guest0:50
I could hear my heartbeat just a moment of talking to Mr. President on that night on behalf of team. And yeah, [chuckles] it was the m-most beautiful news of my life.
James Kamara Sami· Host1:01
We hear from two members of the Afghan women's football team in exile who've been told that they can play in international tournaments. We begin, though, in Germany, where the biggest contingent of US armed forces in Europe is about to get smaller. Fifteen percent smaller, in fact, after the Pentagon announced on Friday it was withdrawing five thousand troops over the next year. The Trump administration has long signaled it wants a smaller military footprint in Europe as part of its push to get NATO allies to share more of the burden.