US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 American troops stationed in Germany, the Pentagon said on Friday. The reduction, equal to roughly 14% of US forces in Germany, is to be completed within six to 12 months, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, noting the move followed a comprehensive review of the Department of Defense’s force posture in Europe and reflected theater requirements and conditions on the ground.
The announcement came a day after US President Donald Trump threatened cuts to US troop numbers in Germany and publicly criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had said the US was being “humiliated” by Iran. Trump responded by calling Merz “totally ineffective” and saying he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” On Friday Trump also announced plans to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union, a step expected to hurt Germany particularly hard.
A senior Pentagon official told Reuters that recent German rhetoric had been “inappropriate and unhelpful,” and suggested the president was reacting to those comments. Senior German military figures said they were surprised by the decision, describing it as coming after constructive meetings at the Pentagon earlier in the day. They pointed out that Germany had allowed US overflight rights for operations related to Iran and permitted use of US bases in Germany; some US personnel wounded in the conflict were treated at Landstuhl military hospital near Ramstein Air Base.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the move was “foreseeable,” but stressed that the continued presence of US forces serves both countries’ interests. He described US-German cooperation as vital for peace and security in Europe, for support to Ukraine, and for collective deterrence. At the same time, Pistorius emphasized the need for a more self-reliant Europe within NATO, saying Europeans must take greater responsibility for their security. He noted Germany is strengthening its armed forces, accelerating procurement, focusing on innovation, and expanding defence infrastructure.
NATO said it was working with Washington to understand the reasoning behind the troop reduction. NATO spokeswoman Alison Hart wrote on X that the adjustment underlines the need for Europe to continue investing in defence and to take on a larger share of responsibility, pointing to progress since allies agreed to increase defence spending. She added that NATO remained confident in its ability to provide deterrence and defence as Europe and the alliance grow stronger.
The US maintains its largest concentration of forces in Germany in Europe, a legacy of World War II and the Cold War. About 36,000 US soldiers and roughly 13,000 Air Force personnel are currently stationed there, including at Ramstein, the US’ largest overseas air base. Germany hosts several major US facilities, including headquarters for US European Command and US Africa Command. After Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy host the next-largest US personnel presences in Europe.
Edited by: Rana Taha, Louis Oelofse