The United States will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, in a move that signals growing friction between President Donald Trump and key European allies over the ongoing Iran conflict.
The decision follows a public spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who criticised Washington’s handling of efforts to end the two-month-old war with Iran. Merz had said earlier this week that Iran appeared to be “humiliating” the US in negotiations and questioned Washington’s broader strategy.
A senior Pentagon official, speaking anonymously, described Germany’s recent comments as “inappropriate and unhelpful,” adding that Trump’s response reflected frustration over what the administration sees as unconstructive criticism from an ally.
The troop withdrawal is expected to be completed within six to 12 months. Germany currently hosts about 35,000 active-duty US military personnel, the largest American military presence in Europe.
According to Pentagon officials, the move will reduce US troop levels in Europe to roughly where they stood before 2022, prior to the military buildup ordered after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine under then-President Joe Biden.
While the administration framed the drawdown as part of Trump’s broader push for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence, the move also underscores his willingness to penalise allies he believes have failed to sufficiently back US military operations.
Reuters reported last week that an internal Pentagon memo outlined possible retaliatory measures against NATO allies seen as unsupportive during the Iran war, including suspending Spain from NATO and reassessing Washington’s stance on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands.
Germany under pressure
Trump has repeatedly singled out Germany, accusing European allies of failing to contribute enough to US-led security efforts. He has also criticised NATO members for not deploying naval forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained largely blocked during the conflict, disrupting global oil supplies and rattling energy markets.
Merz has maintained that Germany and other European nations were not consulted before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. He said he directly conveyed his concerns to Trump.
Despite the criticism, German officials argue Berlin has significantly supported US operations by allowing American bases on German soil to be used and approving military overflights. Germany also hosts the major US military hospital in Landstuhl.
The latest withdrawal plan includes pulling a brigade combat team out of Germany and cancelling the deployment of a long-range fires battalion that had been scheduled to arrive later this year under plans approved by the Biden administration.
The move revives a long-standing Trump objective. During his first term, he pushed to sharply reduce US troop levels in Germany, but the plan was never implemented before he left office. Biden later reversed it.
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