United States to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany

The United States Department of Defense has announced the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany, representing about 15% of the total U.S. force presence in the country. This operation is expected to be completed within the next six to twelve months, following an official count at the end of 2025 that identified over 36,000 stationed U.S. personnel. The decision follows a public dispute between U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding military strategy in Iran. Chancellor Merz criticized American strategy, claiming Tehran was humiliating the global power, to which President Trump retorted that the Chancellor lacks understanding on nuclear proliferation. While the Pentagon stated the move is part of a broader review of military presence in Europe, Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. have criticized the decision, arguing it undermines alliance security and benefits Russia. The official order was finalized by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.