German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius tried to defuse concern after the Pentagon announced plans to remove about 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, describing the move as “anticipated” and saying Germany is ready to take on a greater share of its own defense. Speaking to the German news agency dpa, Pistorius stressed that U.S. forces stationed in Europe — particularly in Germany — serve both American and German interests, and that remaining a strong transatlantic partner requires bolstering NATO’s European pillar.
A Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, said the order came from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following “a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe” and the situation on the ground. He said the pullback should be completed within six to 12 months. Even after the reduction, the U.S. would still station more than 30,000 troops in Germany, reversing only part of the buildup ordered under President Biden following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement came amid recent public criticism by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of U.S. policy, including comments that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iranian leaders. The move also echoes an earlier attempt by the Trump administration to cut roughly 9,500 troops in 2020, a plan that stalled and was reversed by President Biden in 2021.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the alliance is working with the United States to clarify the details of the withdrawal and emphasized that the decision underscores the need for European members to invest more in their own defense. Germany is already expanding its military and, under Merz, is on track to spend the equivalent of more than 3 percent of GDP on defense by next year, above NATO’s 2 percent guideline.
President Trump indicated he is considering further troop reductions in Italy and Spain, saying he “probably will” look at cuts and questioning those countries’ responses to the Iran conflict. Both Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have been vocal critics of U.S. military action in Iran.