Pentagon Orders Withdrawal of 5,000 US Troops from Germany Amid Trump-Merz Feud

The United States has announced it will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months, the Pentagon confirmed on Friday, fulfilling a threat by President Donald Trump following a sharp exchange with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the ongoing US war with Iran.

The decision, which represents approximately 14 percent of the roughly 36,000 American active-duty service members stationed in Germany, comes after days of escalating tensions between the two NATO allies. Chancellor Merz had publicly criticised Washington’s military strategy earlier this week, stating that the United States was being “humiliated” by Iranian leadership and questioning what exit strategy the Trump administration was pursuing.

A senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the German chancellor’s remarks were “inappropriate and unhelpful,” adding that “the president is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks”. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a formal statement 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”.

Trump had signalled his intention on social media earlier in the week, writing that the US was reviewing possible troop reductions in Germany with a “determination” to be made soon. He subsequently threatened similar cuts to US military presences in Spain and Italy, posting on Thursday, “Why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely”.

The withdrawal will see a brigade combat team currently stationed in Germany pulled out of the country, while a long-range fires battalion that the Biden administration had planned to begin deploying later this year will no longer deploy. Officials have indicated that some troops could be sent back to the United States, while others may be redeployed to the Indo-Pacific, which the Pentagon now views as a top strategic priority.

Germany hosts several critical US military facilities, including the headquarters of US European Command and US Africa Command, Ramstein Air Base, which serves as a key logistics hub for US operations worldwide, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest American military hospital outside the United States . US nuclear missiles are also stationed in the country.

The drawdown would bring US troop levels in Europe back to roughly pre-2022 levels, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a buildup under the Biden administration. A senior Pentagon official cast the decision within the context of the Trump administration’s broader push for European nations to become the continent’s primary security providers.

News of the withdrawal drew swift condemnation from Democrats in Washington. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the move “suggests American commitments to our allies are dependent on the president’s mood” and urged the president to “immediately cease this reckless action before he causes irreversible consequences for our alliances and long-term national security”.

NATO has sought clarification regarding the US decision. Alliance spokesperson Allison Hart said on Saturday that NATO was “working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany,” remarks that suggested the announcement was a unilateral act with little or no prior coordination with European allies. Hart added that “this adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defence and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security”.

The German government sought to play down the severity of the move. A defence ministry spokesperson described the planned withdrawal as “anticipated” and a reminder of Europe’s need to invest in its own defence, estimating current US troop strength in Germany at approximately 40,000. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had indicated on Thursday that Germany was prepared for a possible reduction of US troops in the country.

Trump made a similar threat during his first term, saying he would pull about 9,500 of the roughly 34,500 troops then stationed in Germany, but he did not initiate the process and President Biden formally stopped the planned withdrawal soon after taking office in 2021. The current withdrawal is expected to be implemented over the coming months, with further announcements regarding which specific units will be affected anticipated in the near future.