The United States decided to reduce its troops in Germany

The Pentagon announced Friday that US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 troops from Germany within a year, representing about 15% of the US forces stationed in the European country.

A Pentagon spokesman indicated, in statements, that the withdrawal of forces is expected to be completed within six to 12 months, as Germany hosts approximately 35,000 active-duty US military personnel, the largest number in Europe.

A senior Pentagon official, said that recent German statements were inappropriate and unhelpful, adding: “The president is responding appropriately to these unconstructive statements”.

The official explained that the troop reduction would bring the US military presence in Europe back to roughly pre-2022 levels, before the Russian war on Ukraine led to a surge in US deployments under former President Joe Biden.

According to an internal email from the Pentagon contained options for punishing NATO member states that Washington believes didn’t support US operations in the Iran war, including suspending Spain’s membership in the alliance and reviewing the US position on Britain’s claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

It remains unclear whether Washington will withdraw more troops from Europe, as Trump said on Thursday that he was probably considering withdrawing US forces from Italy and Spain.

From its part, NATO announced on Saturday that it’s in contact with the United States to better understand Washington’s decision to withdraw thousands of its troops from Germany.

NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said on X, “We’re working with the United States to clarify the details of its decision regarding military deployment in Germany”.

She added that this clarification underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and to take greater responsibility for our common security.

From his part, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday, in response to the United States’ announcement of the withdrawal of 5,000 of their troops from Germany, that Europeans must take greater responsibility for their own security, amid escalating tensions between US President Donald Trump and NATO allies in Europe.

Pistorius added: Germany is on the right track in this regard, pointing to the expansion of its armed forces, the Bundeswehr, and the increase and acceleration of equipment purchases and the construction of military infrastructure.

Pistorius estimated the current number of US troops stationed in Germany at approximately 40,000, adding that the presence of American troops in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and the interest of the United States.

However, he added that it was expected that the United States would withdraw its forces from Europe, including Germany.

Last month, Trump threatened to impose a full US trade embargo on Spain, which has declared it won’t allow its bases or airspace to be used to attack Iran.

The United States has two important military bases in Spain: the Rota naval base and the Morón air base.

Trump also clashed with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over the Iran war, as well as criticizing Pope Leo XIV.

Trump said in April that Meloni, once one of his closest allies, “lacked courage” and that she let Washington down.

The senior Pentagon official said: “The president has been very clear about his displeasure with our allies’ statements and their failure to provide support for US operations that are in their best interest”.

German Chancellor Merz stated earlier this week that the United States didn’t consult Germany or its European allies before launching the war with Iran, noting that he immediately informed Trump afterward of his doubts about the usefulness of this conflict.

The number of US troops in Germany represents about half of the total US military presence in Europe.

Germany also hosts dozens of American facilities, including the US European and African Command headquarters, and contains vital military assets, including B61 ​​nuclear bombs.

In recent days, President Donald Trump raised the possibility of reducing the number of US military forces stationed in Germany, a member of NATO, following statements made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Last week, Trump threatened to reduce the number of US troops in Germany, following a dispute with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the US strategy in the Iran war.

The German chancellor said on Monday that the Americans clearly lack a strategy towards Iran, and that Tehran is humiliating the world’s greatest superpower.

Trump responded on Tuesday that “Merz thinks it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon… He doesn’t know what he’s talking about”.