Pentagon orders withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany

The Pentagon announced Saturday that approximately 5,000 U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Germany over the next six to 12 months, directly following U.S. President Donald Trump's clash with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war.

A senior Pentagon official told Reuters that German rhetoric had been "inappropriate and unhelpful" and that "the president is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks," as Trump also said he would "probably" pull troops from Italy and Spain.

Pentagon confirms withdrawal from Germany

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement, "This decision follows a thorough review of the Department's force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground. We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months."

The order came from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

A senior Pentagon official told Reuters the drawdown would restore U.S. troop levels in Europe to roughly pre-2022 levels, reversing the buildup former U.S. President Joe Biden ordered after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It is not immediately clear whether the 5,000 troops would be redeployed within Europe or returned to U.S. bases.

A U.S. Army Soldier exits a CH-47 Chinook during exercise Combined Resolve 26-07 at 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, April 23, 2026. (Photo via U.S. Army)

What triggered the withdrawal? Merz's 'humiliated' remarks

The withdrawal directly follows Merz's statement that Iran was "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table and that the U.S. had "no exit strategy" for the Iran war.

Trump responded on Truth Social, accusing Merz of thinking it was "OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," then posted that Merz should fix his "broken country."

A senior Pentagon official told Reuters German rhetoric had been "inappropriate and unhelpful."

Merz noted that Germany had done more than most allies to support Washington's Iran operations, including access to bases and overflight rights, and that German military officials had been surprised by the withdrawal announcement, citing "constructive meetings at the Pentagon earlier in the day."

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Germany's U.S. military footprint includes:

• Ramstein Air Base, headquarters of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa
• Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest American hospital outside the U.S., where Iran war casualties have been treated
• Hohenfels, the U.S. Army's only combat training center outside the U.S.
• EUCOM and AFRICOM headquarters
• U.S. nuclear missiles.

Germany's 2027 defense budget commits to 3.1% of GDP, more than NATO's 2% target, and approved increased spending the same week Trump announced the withdrawal.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) and the Inspector of the Army Christian Freuding are sitting in a GTK Boxer tank at the German army barracks in Munster, northern Germany, April 30, 2026. (AFP Photo)

Withdrawal from Italy and Spain is also on the table

When asked whether he would pull troops from Italy and Spain, Trump said: "I probably will, look, why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible. In all cases they said, 'I don't want to get involved.'"

The U.S. has approximately 12,000 troops in Italy and bases in Spain, including Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base.

May 02, 2026 08:56 AM GMT+03:00