The decision, ordered by the Secretary of Defense, must be implemented within a year.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany within a year, the Pentagon announced on Friday, representing about 15% of its current presence in the European country.
“We anticipate the withdrawal to be completed within the next six to twelve months,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated in a press release. More than 36,000 American soldiers are stationed in Germany, according to official records set to expire by the end of 2025.
This announcement comes after President Donald Trump earlier in the week contemplated reducing the U.S. armed forces stationed in Germany, a NATO ally, following remarks by Chancellor Friedrich Merz that sparked his anger.
German leader criticized the lack of U.S. strategy in Iran and accused Tehran of humiliating the world’s leading power. Trump responded, defending U.S. policy and hinting at a possible reduction of American military presence in Germany. He also criticized European allies for not contributing more to joint military efforts.
Besides Germany, Trump also mentioned possible reductions in U.S. forces in Italy and Spain due to ongoing tensions with Iran. He mentioned dissatisfaction with Italy’s lack of support and described Spain as “absolutely heinous.” Italy had 12,662 U.S. soldiers, and Spain had 3,814 by the end of 2025 according to official data. The European Union highlighted that the U.S. troop presence in Europe also serves American interests globally.
