The Pentagon announced on Friday that the United States will remove 5,000 troops from Germany, a NATO partner, amid growing tensions between President Donald Trump and European leaders over the conflict with Iran.
Earlier in the week, Trump had hinted at reducing the American military presence in Germany following disagreements with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz criticized Washington’s handling of the two-month conflict, saying Iran appeared to be gaining the upper hand in negotiations and questioning the U.S. strategy for ending the war.
A senior Pentagon official, speaking anonymously, described Germany’s recent comments as “unhelpful” and “inappropriate,” adding that Trump’s response reflected frustration with those statements. The troop reduction is expected to take place over the next six to twelve months. Germany currently hosts around 35,000 active U.S. service members, the largest American military presence in Europe.
According to the official, the move would return U.S. troop numbers in Europe to levels seen before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, when former President Joe Biden increased deployments across the continent. The decision also aligns with the Trump administration’s broader goal of encouraging European nations to take greater responsibility for regional security. At the same time, it highlights Trump’s readiness to react strongly to allies he believes are not fully supportive of U.S. policies.
Last week, Reuters reported that an internal Pentagon memo outlined possible measures against NATO members considered unsupportive during the Iran conflict. The proposals reportedly included suspending Spain from NATO and reassessing U.S. backing for Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Germany while also rebuking other NATO countries for failing to contribute naval support to efforts aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict. The strategic waterway, vital for global oil transport, has remained largely blocked, fueling instability in energy markets and disrupting supplies worldwide.
Merz stated that neither Germany nor other European nations were consulted before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. He also said he personally expressed doubts about the military campaign to Trump afterward.
The Pentagon official emphasized that Trump remains dissatisfied with both the rhetoric of certain allies and what he sees as their lack of support for U.S. military operations. Trump has advocated reducing the American military footprint in Germany for years. Although he attempted to implement troop cuts near the end of his first term, the plan was never carried out and was later reversed by Biden after taking office.
German military officials told Reuters they were surprised by Trump’s latest announcement because discussions earlier that day at the Pentagon had reportedly been constructive. They argued that Germany had provided significant support during the Iran conflict, including access to military bases, authorization for overflights, and hosting the large U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl.
As part of the withdrawal, a brigade combat team currently stationed in Germany will leave the country. In addition, a long-range fires battalion that the Biden administration planned to deploy to Germany later this year will no longer be sent there, the Pentagon official said.
