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Pentagon announces reduction of 5,000 troops in Germany
The US Department of Defense confirmed plans to withdraw 5,000 military personnel from Germany, drawing sharp criticism from senior Republican lawmakers who argue the move weakens deterrence against Russia. The decision follows a strategic review, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated on Friday, citing evolving regional requirements.
Republican leaders urge redeployment rather than withdrawal
Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker and his House counterpart Mike Rogers condemned the Pentagon's decision in a joint statement. They warned that reducing US forces in Europe prematurely could undermine deterrence and embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Rather than withdrawing forces from the continent altogether, it is in America's interest to maintain a strong deterrent in Europe by moving these 5,000 U.S. forces to the east."
Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers
House Armed Services Committee Democrat Adam Smith called the move "not grounded in any coherent US national security policy," suggesting it stemmed from political motivations rather than strategic analysis.
Trump signals deeper cuts amid transatlantic tensions
President Donald Trump indicated on Saturday that further troop reductions could follow, though he provided no specifics. The US currently maintains over 36,000 active-duty personnel in Germany-its largest European deployment, compared to 12,000 in Italy and 10,000 in the UK.
Trump has previously suggested withdrawing troops from Italy and Spain as part of a broader shift toward the Indo-Pacific region. Last year, the US reduced its presence in Romania under the same strategy.
NATO seeks clarity as European allies react
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated the alliance is working with Washington to understand the withdrawal's implications. She emphasized the need for European members to increase defense spending and assume greater responsibility for collective security.
"We're already seeing progress since allies agreed to invest 5% of GDP at the Nato summit in The Hague last year."
Allison Hart, NATO spokesperson
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius acknowledged the move as "foreseeable" but stressed that the US military presence in Germany remains mutually beneficial. Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that internal divisions pose a greater threat to NATO than external adversaries.
Diplomatic friction fuels debate
The troop withdrawal announcement followed a public spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz had criticized US negotiators for appearing "humiliated" by Iran, prompting Trump to accuse him of incompetence on his platform Truth Social. The Pentagon attributed the decision to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with Parnell noting the withdrawal would take six to twelve months to complete.
Germany's defense spending has risen sharply under Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Merz, with projections reaching €105.8 billion (£91 billion) in 2027-equivalent to 3.1% of GDP when including aid to Ukraine.
