Berlin - German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Saturday the planned withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany should push Europe to bolster its own defenses. The Pentagon announced the drawdown from Germany's largest European base on Friday, amid escalating trade and diplomatic tensions between Washington and its allies.
President Donald Trump confirmed the move on Saturday, stating the reduction would surpass 5,000 troops. The decision also cancels a planned deployment of a U.S. battalion armed with long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany-a key deterrent requested by Berlin against Russia.
Republican Senators and House chairs expressed concern, arguing the troops should be repositioned east within Europe rather than withdrawn. "Prematurely reducing America’s forward presence before those capabilities are fully realized risks undermining deterrence," they said in a joint statement.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned the move signals alliance disintegration, calling it the greatest threat to the transatlantic community.
Pistorius acknowledged the expected partial reduction from nearly 40,000 troops currently stationed in Germany and reaffirmed Berlin's commitment to expanding its military.
The U.S. military presence in Germany, established after World War II, peaked during the Cold War and now includes key installations like Ramstein Airbase and Landstuhl Hospital. The Pentagon stated the withdrawal will take 6 to 12 months, without specifying affected bases or troop destinations.
A NATO spokesperson confirmed ongoing discussions with Washington. The cancellation of the long-range fires battalion is considered operationally significant, as the U.S. holds a near-monopoly on such capabilities within the alliance.