US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 US troops from Germany, the Pentagon said on Friday. The reduction, roughly 14% of US forces in the country, is expected to be completed within six to 12 months, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, following a comprehensive review of the Department of Defense’s force posture in Europe that reflected theater requirements and conditions on the ground.
The move came a day after President Donald Trump threatened cuts to troop levels in Germany and publicly criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had said the US was being ‘humiliated’ by Iran. Trump called Merz ‘totally ineffective’ and said 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 measure likely to affect Germany significantly.
A senior Pentagon official told Reuters that recent German rhetoric had been ‘inappropriate and unhelpful,’ suggesting the president’s actions were a reaction to those comments. Senior German military figures said they were surprised by the decision, noting it followed 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; some US personnel wounded in the conflict were treated at Landstuhl military hospital near Ramstein Air Base.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the decision as ‘foreseeable’ but emphasized that the US presence remains in both countries’ interests. He said US-German cooperation is vital for peace and security in Europe, for support to Ukraine, and for collective deterrence. At the same time, Pistorius stressed the need for a more self-reliant Europe within NATO, urging European allies to take greater responsibility for their security. He added that Germany is boosting its armed forces, accelerating procurement, focusing on innovation, and expanding defence infrastructure.
NATO said it was working with Washington to understand the rationale behind the troop reduction. NATO spokeswoman Alison Hart wrote on X that the adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue investing in defence and to shoulder a larger share of responsibility, noting progress since allies agreed to raise defence spending. She said NATO remains confident in its ability to provide deterrence and defence as the alliance and Europe grow stronger.
The US still 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 in Germany, including at Ramstein, the US’s 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.