President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the U.S. intends to cut its military presence in Germany by significantly more than the approximately 5,000 troops mentioned by the Pentagon. He stated, “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.”
The initial withdrawal plan of 5,000 troops was revealed by the Pentagon on May 1. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed, “The Secretary of War has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany.”
This decision follows a comprehensive review of the military’s position in Europe and considers the current conditions on the ground. It is expected that the withdrawal will be completed within the next six to twelve months. War Secretary Pete Hegseth ultimately signed off on the order.
Currently, around 35,000 to 36,000 U.S. servicemen are based in Germany, which is the largest American military presence in Europe.
A reduction of 5,000 troops would amount to about 14 percent of that total. Overall, the U.S. maintains approximately 80,000 troops across Europe.
Germany hosts key U.S. facilities, such as Ramstein Air Base and Grafenwöhr training area. Reports suggest that the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, the only permanent brigade combat team in Germany, may be included in this initial drawdown.
The announcement follows rising tensions between the Trump administration and German officials regarding U.S. actions in the conflict with Iran, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly criticizing U.S. strategies.
Earlier in the week, Trump had signaled on social media that troop levels in Germany were under review.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius commented on the planned withdrawal, stating it was expected. He stressed the importance of U.S.-German cooperation for stability in Europe.
Pistorius also remarked that Europe should increase its own security responsibilities and mentioned collaboration with allies like the UK, France, Poland, and Italy.
During Trump’s first term, there was a plan to withdraw around 9,500 troops from Germany, a move later reversed by the Biden administration.
This current reduction would revert U.S. troop levels in Europe to the status quo prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
NATO is currently evaluating the particulars of the withdrawal. A spokesperson confirmed that the alliance is working with the U.S. to clarify the details of their troop adjustments in Germany. Some senior Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the broader implications of cutting troop numbers.
Trump has consistently criticized the rationale for maintaining a large military presence in Germany while urging European NATO allies to augment their defense expenditures.
As of now, the Pentagon has not provided additional details or a timeline for the expanded troop reductions beyond the initial 5,000, nor have there been any official announcements regarding the specifics of further cuts.
