The United States is withdrawing approximately 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced Friday. The decision follows threats made by President Donald Trump earlier this week as tensions escalate over the US and Israel’s war with Iran.
The troop reduction comes amid a deepening feud between President Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz has criticized Washington’s handling of the war in Iran, claiming the US was being humiliated by Iranian leadership and lacks a strategy. In response, a senior Pentagon official described the recent rhetoric from Germany as unhelpful.
Germany currently hosts more than 35,000 US service members. This drawdown will bring US troop levels in Europe back to roughly pre-2022 levels, prior to the buildup triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. President Trump has previously made several threats to reduce military presence in Germany and other European allies, feuding with them over their reluctance to increase support for the war on Iran.