US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany over 6-12 months
Washington has ordered roughly 5,000 troops out of Germany within a year, as Trump escalates pressure on European allies who have distanced themselves from the war on Iran.
The Pentagon has announced the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months, in yet another flashpoint between Washington and its European allies over the ongoing war on Iran.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the decision on Friday, describing it as the outcome of a “thorough review” of US force posture in Europe, citing “theater requirements and conditions on the ground.”
The withdrawal order, signed by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, follows a public falling-out between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Earlier this week, Merz sparked Washington’s ire when he said Iran was “humiliating” the United States at the negotiating table, comments that infuriated Trump, who responded by accusing the German leader of believing Iran should be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump had flagged the troop reduction as early as Wednesday, saying Washington was “studying and reviewing” the possibility before confirming the decision would come “in a short period of time.”
A pattern of punishment
The withdrawal announcement is part of a broader pattern of Trump leveraging US military presence to pressure European allies who have distanced themselves from the war on Iran or declined to contribute to a deployment in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iranian forces have effectively closed to international shipping.
Trump has also threatened to pull troops from Italy and Spain, calling Rome unhelpful and Madrid “absolutely horrible” in their responses to the war. Based on late 2025 figures cited by AFP, the US maintains 12,662 active-duty personnel in Italy and 3,814 in Spain, compared with 36,436 in Germany.
During a congressional hearing on Thursday, Hegseth disclosed that the 60-day war on Iran has so far cost the United States an estimated $25 billion. However, US officials familiar with internal assessments told CBS News that the true figure is closer to $50 billion, roughly double the Pentagon’s public estimate, as the $25 billion figure did not fully account for damaged or destroyed equipment or US military installations.
Berlin draws a red line
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday that Berlin was “prepared” for a reduction in US troops and was in close coordination with NATO partners on the issue.
He was careful, however, to separate the question of troop numbers from that of permanent military infrastructure.
Ramstein Air Base in southwestern Germany, the largest US air base outside American territory and a cornerstone of NATO logistics, was not on the table under any circumstances, Wadephul said, noting it served vital strategic functions for both Washington and Berlin.
Wider European anxiety
The withdrawal threat lands at a moment of heightened European unease. With the war in Ukraine now in its fourth year and US security guarantees increasingly uncertain, European capitals have accelerated defense spending and deepened military coordination.
Merz has made national security a cornerstone of his chancellorship, committing to major military investment and reaffirming Germany’s support for Kiev. Yet his domestic standing has taken a hit, with recent polling showing the far-right Alternative for Germany surpassing his party in popularity.
The European Union, for its part, stressed Thursday that the US military presence in Europe remained in Washington’s own strategic interest.
