The Pentagon announced Friday that approximately 5,000 American military personnel will be removed from Germany within the next six to twelve months, making good on President Donald Trump’s recent warning following tensions with German leadership over the ongoing Iran conflict.
The troop reduction comes after Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Iranian leadership was “humiliating” the United States and criticized Washington’s approach to the war earlier this week.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell released a statement explaining that the “decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground.”
Germany currently houses multiple American military installations, including European and Africa command headquarters, Ramstein Air Base, and the Landstuhl medical facility that has treated wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The country also hosts U.S. nuclear weapons.
The planned departure represents 14% of the roughly 36,000 American service members currently based in Germany.
According to Nico Lange from the Center of European Policy Analysis, who spoke with The Associated Press this week, these forces mainly advance U.S. strategic goals, including “the projection of American power globally,” rather than providing German defense.
When reporters questioned Trump about the withdrawal Friday as he departed Ocala, Florida following an economic rally, the president declined to respond while boarding Air Force One.
This marks Trump’s second attempt at reducing German troop levels. During his previous presidency, he proposed removing about 9,500 of the approximately 34,500 troops stationed there at the time, though the plan never moved forward and President Joe Biden officially canceled it after taking office in 2021.
Trump has consistently questioned the American military footprint in Germany and criticized NATO members for not supporting Washington in the Iran war, which started February 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The president posted on social media Wednesday that his administration was examining potential German troop cuts, promising a “determination” would come soon. By Thursday, he continued targeting Merz online, suggesting the German leader should focus on “ending the war with Russia/Ukraine” and “fixing his broken Country” instead of commenting on Iran.
NATO allies have anticipated possible U.S. troop withdrawals since Trump returned to office, as Washington has indicated Europe must take greater responsibility for regional security, including Ukraine’s defense.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 American personnel are typically deployed across Europe, depending on ongoing operations, training exercises, and rotation schedules. For over a year, NATO partners have expected that troops sent after Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine would likely be withdrawn first.
Ed Arnold, a European security specialist at London’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), noted that Europe is more worried about potential U.S. transfers of Patriot missile systems and ammunition from Germany to Middle Eastern operations.
In October, the United States confirmed it would reduce forces along NATO’s Ukrainian borders. The sudden decision to cut 1,500-3,000 troops created concern among NATO ally Romania, where the alliance operates an air base.
