Trump orders withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, rattling NATO allies

Key facts

• The US will withdraw at least 5,000 troops from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months.
• As of December 2025, 36,436 US active service members were stationed in Germany.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized US handling of the Iran conflict, saying Tehran humiliated Washington.
• Germany is on track to spend over 3% of GDP on defense by next year, above NATO's 2% benchmark.
• President Trump also threatened troop reductions in Italy and Spain, citing lack of support on Iran.
• NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the move underscores the need for Europe to invest more in defense.
• A similar troop reduction attempt in 2020 under Trump was reversed by President Biden in 2021.

A new low in transatlantic relations

The Trump administration has ordered the withdrawal of roughly 5,000 US troops from Germany, a decision that has sent shockwaves through NATO and intensified European anxieties about the reliability of American security guarantees. The Pentagon confirmed the move on Friday, with spokesman Sean Parnell stating that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had approved the reduction following a thorough review of force posture in Europe. The withdrawal is expected to be completed within six to twelve months, leaving more than 30,000 US troops in Germany — still a substantial presence but a sharp reversal of the buildup that began after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The announcement comes amid a series of escalating disputes between the Trump administration and European allies, including tariffs, threats to annex Greenland, and disagreements over aid to Ukraine. But the troop reduction strikes at the heart of the NATO alliance, raising fundamental questions about America's long-term commitment to European defense. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius sought to downplay the impact, calling the decision 'foreseeable' and insisting that Germany is ready to shoulder more of the burden. 'If we are to remain transatlantic, we must strengthen the European pillar within NATO,' Pistorius said on Saturday.

Merz's Iran comments and the trigger

The troop reduction follows days after Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly criticized the US handling of the Iran conflict, stating that Tehran had 'humiliated' Washington. In an interview with German channel ARD, Merz insisted there was 'no connection' between his remarks and the US decision, according to a Reuters translation. However, the timing has fueled speculation that the withdrawal is at least partly a punitive response. President Trump has long complained that European allies are not pulling their weight on security, and he singled out Germany as 'delinquent' on defense spending during his first term. Trump also took aim at Italy and Spain this week, suggesting he might reduce US troops in those countries as well. 'Yeah, I probably will…look, why shouldn't I?' Trump told reporters, accusing both nations of being unhelpful during the Iran conflict. Spain has denied the US military permission to use its bases or airspace for missions linked to the conflict, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — despite being a key ally — has been an outspoken critic of American military action in Iran. The remarks have further strained relations with two major NATO members.

The numbers behind the drawdown

The withdrawal of 5,000 troops is the latest chapter in a long-running saga over burden-sharing within NATO. At the height of the Cold War, some 250,000 active-duty US troops were stationed in what was then West Germany. Today, the number is a fraction of that, though still significant. as of December 2025, 36,436 US active service members were based in Germany. The planned reduction would bring that number below 31,000, reversing the post-2022 buildup. President Trump attempted a similar reduction in 2020, seeking to pull about 9,500 troops from Germany over inadequate defense spending. That effort stalled and was formally reversed by President Biden shortly after he took office in 2021. This time, the administration appears determined to follow through, with Pentagon officials framing the move as part of a broader strategic shift. Elbridge Colby, a senior Pentagon official, said Washington wants to focus on challenges 'where only American power can play a decisive role' in Asia and its own hemisphere, and is demanding 'much greater efforts by our allies to step up and assume primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe.'

Europe's response: a new era of spending?

Germany, the United Kingdom, and France have all promised to usher in a new era of defense spending, but they face a steep climb. Germany is already undergoing an historic expansion of its own forces in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Under Chancellor Merz, the country is on track to spend the equivalent of more than three percent of GDP on defense by next year — well above NATO's two percent benchmark, according to plans outlined last year. Pistorius emphasized that Germany is ready to take on more responsibility, but he also noted that the presence of American troops in Europe remains in both parties' interest. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart posted on X that the alliance is working with the United States to understand the details of the withdrawal, and that the announcement 'underscores the need for Europe to invest more in defense.' The sentiment reflects a growing recognition among European leaders that they can no longer rely on Washington as they once did. As the US willingness to underpin European security frays — and the Russian threat grows — the pressure on European capitals to accelerate their own defense efforts is mounting.

What comes next: open questions and stakes

The withdrawal plan leaves several critical questions unanswered. Will the US follow through on threats to reduce troops in Italy and Spain? How will the reduction affect NATO's overall deterrence posture, particularly on the eastern flank facing Russia? And can European allies close the capability gap quickly enough to compensate for a diminished American presence? The timeline of six to twelve months gives European governments little time to adjust, even as they scramble to increase spending and modernize their forces. For now, the immediate fallout is diplomatic. The decision has rattled NATO allies and added to growing fears that Europe can no longer count on the United States as a reliable partner. Allison Hart's statement that the move underscores the need for greater European investment is both a call to action and a warning: the transatlantic umbrella is shrinking, and Europe must learn to stand more on its own. As one senior official put it, the US is demanding that allies assume 'primary responsibility for the conventional defense of Europe' — a shift that would fundamentally alter the post-World War II security order.

A fragile alliance at a crossroads

The troop reduction is not an isolated incident but the latest symptom of a deeper transatlantic rift that has been widening for years. President Trump's transactional approach to alliances, his admiration for strongmen, and his skepticism of multilateral institutions have all contributed to a fraying of the bonds that held the West together for decades. Even as European leaders insist they are ready to do more, the psychological blow of a US withdrawal — however partial — is profound. It signals that the United States no longer sees Europe as its primary strategic theater, and that the era of automatic American protection may be ending. In the words of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the challenge now is to 'strengthen the European pillar within NATO' — a task that will require not just more money, but a fundamental rethinking of European defense cooperation. Whether Europe can rise to that challenge remains an open question. What is clear is that the transatlantic relationship, as it has existed for more than seventy years, is entering uncharted territory. The umbrella has been taken down, even as the rain continues to fall.

The bottom line

• The US is withdrawing at least 5,000 troops from Germany, with the process to be completed in 6 to 12 months.
• The decision follows Chancellor Merz's criticism of US handling of the Iran conflict and Trump's broader complaints about burden-sharing.
• Trump has also threatened troop reductions in Italy and Spain, citing their lack of support on Iran.
• Germany is ramping up defense spending to over 3% of GDP, but the withdrawal underscores Europe's dependence on US security guarantees.
• NATO officials say the move highlights the urgent need for European allies to invest more in their own defense.
• The withdrawal marks a significant shift in US strategic focus toward Asia and the Western Hemisphere, with Europe expected to take primary responsibility for its conventional defense.