President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 active-duty US troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months, fulfilling a threat made after a public clash with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the US-Israeli war in Iran.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the decision follows a review of force posture in Europe, reflecting current theater requirements and conditions on the ground. The move reduces the American contingent in Germany by roughly 14%, from over 36,000 service members.
Germany hosts key US military infrastructure, including the headquarters for US European and Africa Commands, Ramstein Air Base, and a medical center at Landstuhl that treated casualties from Afghanistan and Iraq. US nuclear weapons are also stationed there.
The announcement drew immediate criticism from Democrats in Congress. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the withdrawal "suggests American commitments to our allies are dependent on the president's mood." He urged the president to stop the action before it causes irreversible consequences.
Trump first threatened a similar withdrawal during his first term, planning to pull nearly 10,000 troops from Germany. That process was halted by President Joe Biden in 2021. The current decision comes as NATO allies have braced for reduced US commitment, with Washington warning Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security, including Ukraine.
Analysts warn the move could be disastrous amid heightened global instability and ongoing conflicts. The US stations approximately 80,000 to 100,000 personnel across Europe.