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US troop reduction in Germany draws mixed reactions
Germany's defence minister, Boris Pistorius, described the United States' decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany as "foreseeable" while emphasizing the strategic importance of American military presence in Europe. NATO, meanwhile, is seeking further details from Washington regarding the move.
NATO and European allies respond
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated the alliance is "working with the US to understand the details of their decision." The reduction, part of a broader shift in US military focus toward the Indo-Pacific, has raised concerns among NATO members about the alliance's cohesion.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Saturday that the "greatest threat to the transatlantic community" is not external adversaries but the "ongoing disintegration of our alliance." He urged collective action to reverse what he called a "disastrous trend."
US lawmakers criticize withdrawal
Two senior Republican lawmakers, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, expressed strong concerns over the decision. In a joint statement, they argued that maintaining a strong deterrent in Europe remains in the US national interest, rather than withdrawing forces entirely.
Germany ramps up defence spending amid tensions
Pistorius highlighted Germany's efforts to bolster its military capabilities, noting that Berlin has significantly increased defence spending in recent years. Under the current government, Germany is projected to allocate €105.8 billion (£91 billion) to defence in 2027, reaching 3.1% of GDP when including aid to Ukraine and other funds.
This follows years of criticism from former US President Donald Trump, who had accused Germany of being "delinquent" for failing to meet NATO's 2% GDP spending target. Germany has since surpassed that benchmark.
Diplomatic spat fuels troop withdrawal
The decision follows a public dispute between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz had criticized US negotiators for being "humiliated" by Iran in ongoing talks, prompting Trump to accuse Merz of being soft on Iran's nuclear ambitions.
"The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Trump responded on his platform, Truth Social, calling Merz's remarks misguided and claiming the chancellor "doesn't know what he's talking about."
Timeline and broader implications
The Pentagon confirmed the withdrawal order came from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, with the process expected to take six to twelve months. The US currently has over 36,000 troops in Germany-its largest deployment in Europe-compared to 12,000 in Italy and 10,000 in the UK.
Trump has also suggested reducing troop levels in Italy and Spain, continuing a policy shift initiated last year when the US withdrew forces from Romania. NATO's Hart emphasized the need for Europe to "invest more in defence and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security."
