US to Pull 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Trump–Merz Iran War Tensions
The United States is set to remove approximately 5,000 troops from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months, according to the Pentagon.
U.S. plans to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany within 6–12 months after Pentagon review, amid Trump-Merz tensions over Iran war and NATO security concerns update.
The move comes after President Donald Trump signaled earlier in the week that he was considering reducing U.S. forces stationed in the NATO ally. His comments come amid ongoing tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the U.S. and Israel’s involvement in the conflict with Iran.
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Chancellor Merz has publicly stated that the United States is being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership. He also criticized Washington for what he described as a lack of clear strategy in the ongoing conflict.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell explained that the withdrawal follows a detailed review of America’s military positioning across Europe. He said the decision reflects current operational requirements and conditions on the ground.
The United States maintains several key military installations in Germany, including the headquarters of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, as well as Ramstein Air Base and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest U.S. military hospital outside America.
The planned reduction represents around 14% of the roughly 36,000 U.S. troops currently based in Germany.
According to Nico Lange of the Center of European Policy Analysis, U.S. forces in Germany primarily serve American strategic interests. He noted they are largely focused on global power projection rather than Germany’s direct defense.
Earlier this year, Trump avoided questions from reporters regarding the troop withdrawal while boarding Air Force One in Florida after a political rally promoting his economic agenda.
During his first term, Trump had also proposed pulling around 9,500 troops from the then 34,500 stationed in Germany. However, the plan was never initiated, and it was later halted after President Joe Biden took office in 2021.
