President Donald Trump has intensified plans to reduce American military presence in Germany, stating on Saturday that troop cuts will extend “way down” beyond the 5 000 personnel reduction announced by the Pentagon a day earlier.
“We’re going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5 000,” Trump told reporters on Saturday, without providing additional details about the scope or timeline of further withdrawals.
The Pentagon announced on Friday that the initial 5 000-troop reduction would be completed over the next six to 12 months, according to spokesman Sean Parnell.
The move follows escalating tensions between Washington and Berlin over Middle East policy, after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Iran was “humiliating” the United States at the negotiating table.
As of 31 December 2025, there were 36 436 active-duty US troops stationed in Germany, compared to 12 662 in Italy and 3 814 in Spain.
NATO acknowledged it was “working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany”.
“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,” NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart wrote on X.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday the US troop withdrawal “from Europe and also from Germany was to be expected”.
The announcement coincided with Trump’s declaration that tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union would increase from 15% to 25% next week, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with a trade deal signed last summer.
Republican lawmakers express concern
Top Republican lawmakers overseeing US military policy have expressed scepticism about the troop reduction decision.
Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, chairs of the Armed Services Committees in their respective chambers, warned in a joint statement on Saturday that the move risks “sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin”.
The lawmakers noted that whilst European allies are increasing defence spending, “translating that investment into the military capability needed to assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence will take time”.
They also pointed out that Germany had responded to Trump’s calls for greater defence spending and had allowed American planes to use German bases and airspace during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Pressure on European allies
Trump has repeatedly threatened to reduce US troop numbers in Germany and other European nations during both his presidential terms, pressing Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own defence.
The president now appears determined to penalise allies who have not supported the Middle East war or contributed to a peacekeeping force in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iranian forces have effectively closed.
On Thursday, Trump suggested he might withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the Iran war.
“Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” he told reporters. “Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday that Berlin was “prepared” for a reduction in US troops and was “discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies”.
However, Wadephul stated that large American bases in Germany are “not up for discussion at all”, citing Ramstein Air Base as having “an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike”.
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