The withdrawal of American troops from Germany will weaken NATO, chair of the foreign affairs committee of the German parliament Norbert Rottgen said in an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper.

Instead of strengthening NATO, the withdrawal of troops will weaken the alliance, he said adding that the effectiveness of the US military is not increasing, but decreasing, especially in connection with Russia and the ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East.

The United States has said it will move its headquarters from Stuttgart to Belgium, as well as withdraw 12,000 troops from Germany.