The Pentagon is planning to withdraw U.S. troops from Germany. The likely reason is President Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction with the limited involvement of European countries in the U.S. operation against Iran. The withdrawal is expected to take place within 6 to 12 months.
Details
According to CBS News, which reported on May 1, senior U.S. defense officials say the Pentagon intends to pull around 5,000 American troops out of Germany. Officials believe Trump made this decision due to frustration with the level of European support in the U.S. war effort against Iran. He has publicly criticized NATO leaders for not participating in the military campaign.
The United States has maintained a significant military presence in Germany since World War II and the Cold War. For instance, as of December 2025, more than 36,000 active-duty U.S. troops were at German bases. In addition, there were nearly 1,500 reservists and around 11,500 civilian personnel. Only Japan hosts a larger number of U.S. forces.
Germany is also home to the headquarters of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. Notably, Ramstein Air Base serves as a central hub for American military operations.
Outlook
Defense officials cited by the outlet suggest that some of the troops withdrawn from Europe may later be redeployed elsewhere. This could reflect a broader U.S. strategy to focus more on domestic priorities and the Indo-Pacific region.
At the same time, the withdrawal will not affect the transportation or treatment of wounded service members. They are currently receiving care at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, particularly following Iranian strikes.
However, the move will impact one brigade combat team in Germany. The number of such units in Europe increased after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Pentagon is also planning to reassign a long-range fires battalion that had been scheduled for deployment to Germany at a later stage. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the withdrawal would take between six months and a year.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Trump sharply criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over his stance on the Iranian nuclear threat. The U.S. president advised the German leader to stop interfering in American affairs and instead focus on ending the full-scale war in Ukraine.
