US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made the decision to withdraw approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, as announced by the Pentagon on Friday. This move comes in response to President Donald Trump’s threat to pull troops following comments made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the U.S. conflict with Iran.

The Pentagon plans to complete the withdrawal of these troops over the next six to 12 months. Currently, there are 38,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stated that this decision was the result of a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe, taking into account theater requirements and ground conditions.

However, Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, strongly criticized the decision, labeling it as a “foolish move.” Reed expressed concerns about weakening the U.S. military presence in Europe at a time when Russian forces are actively targeting Ukraine and NATO allies. He emphasized that reducing troops in such a critical strategic position would be detrimental to American commitments to its allies.

A senior Pentagon official revealed that the troop reduction would bring U.S. troop levels back to pre-2022 levels and would involve a U.S. army brigade combat team and other forces already stationed in Germany. The decision to withdraw troops was partly influenced by President Trump’s dissatisfaction with European allies and recent rhetoric from Germany.

President Trump has been vocal about his frustration with NATO allies for lack of support in the U.S. conflict with Iran. He has even criticized German Chancellor Merz on social media for his comments on U.S. strategy regarding Iran. Trump’s administration is considering reducing U.S. troops in Germany as a result of these tensions.

While Trump has threatened to reduce troops in Europe, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2026 restricts the Pentagon from decreasing troop levels in the European theater below 76,000 without the defense secretary certifying to Congress that it was done in coordination with NATO allies.

The senior Pentagon official emphasized that the withdrawal of troops from Germany sends a clear message about the importance of Germany and other allies taking primary responsibility for Europe’s defense. This decision aligns with the Trump administration’s focus on the Western Hemisphere and Indo-Pacific regions and aims to enhance Army readiness.

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Biden administration had previously increased U.S. brigade combat teams in Europe. The surge was intended to be temporary, and the recent troop withdrawal from Germany is part of the overall strategy to ensure readiness and alignment with U.S. defense priorities in different regions.