United States announces withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany

On May 1, 2026, the Pentagon announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. President Donald Trump indicated that the final reduction could be significantly higher than the initially stated 5,000 personnel. This decision follows recent tensions between the U.S. administration and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the war in Iran. U.S. military data shows that Germany hosts approximately 36,000 to 40,000 American service members, representing a critical part of the U.S. presence in Europe. High-ranking Republican lawmakers, including Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, expressed concern that the drawdown could undermine regional deterrence. Meanwhile, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described the move as expected and emphasized the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated that the alliance is working with Washington to understand the details of the adjustment, noting that member states had previously agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP at the Hague Summit.