German minister says US troop withdrawal from Germany is expected

A planned drawdown of 5,000 US troops from Germany has sharpened a warning already echoing across Europe: the continent can no longer afford to leave its security primarily in Washington’s hands.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Europeans must assume greater responsibility for their own defence after the Pentagon confirmed it would reduce the American military presence in Germany.

“Germany is on the right track” in this regard, Mr Pistorius said, citing the expansion of the Bundeswehr, faster and broader weapons procurement and new infrastructure projects.

The Pentagon announced yesterday that the US would withdraw 5,000 military personnel from NATO ally Germany.

Mr Pistorius put the current number of US troops stationed in Germany at “almost 40,000”.

Yet Europe’s ability to stand more firmly on its own remains constrained by tight public finances and deep shortfalls in military capability, gaps that will take years to close.

“The presence of American soldiers in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the United States,” Mr Pistorius said.

Even so, he added, it was “foreseeable that the US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany”.

The announcement followed fresh threats from US President Donald Trump earlier this week to pull forces from NATO partner Germany amid a dispute with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Mr Merz said on Monday that Iran was “humiliating” the US at the negotiating table.

“We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to 12 months,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.

“This decision follows a thorough review of the department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theatre requirements and conditions on the ground,” Mr Parnell added.

US President Donald Trump has faced intense political pressure to end the war against Iran

The clash quickly escalated. On Tuesday, Mr Trump said Mr Merz “thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.

He added: “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!”

By Wednesday, Mr Trump said Washington was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction” of US troops in Germany and would make a decision within a “short period of time”.

Across both of his terms in office, Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut troop levels in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, arguing that European allies should shoulder far more of the burden for their own defense instead of relying on the United States.

President Trump has faced intense political pressure to end the war against Iran, which is unpopular even with much of his base, having increased costs for American consumers and unnerved US allies.

During an exchange in Congress on Thursday, Mr Hegseth was asked about the cost of 60 days of conflict and replied that it was estimated at less than €21 billion so far.

The US President now appears determined to penalise allies that have neither backed the war nor contributed to a peacekeeping force in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that Tehran’s forces have effectively closed.

On Thursday, Mr Trump said he may pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the war.

He told reporters in the Oval Office: “Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.

“Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?”

Mr Trump (R) said Mr Merz (L) should focus on ending the Ukraine war instead of ‘interfering’ on Iran

As of 31 December 2025, there were 12,662 active-duty US troops in Italy and 3,814 in Spain.

In Germany, there were 36,436.

Speaking during a visit to Morocco, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday that Germany was “prepared” for a reduction in US troops and was “discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies”.

Although he said he was “relaxed” about the prospect of fewer US troops in Germany, Mr Wadephul stressed that major American bases there were “not up for discussion at all”.

He said, for example, that Ramstein Air Base served “an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike”.

The EU said Thursday that the deployment of US troops in Europe served Washington’s interests as well, and described the United States as “a vital partner in contributing to Europe’s security and defence”.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump renewed his criticism of Mr Merz, telling him to concentrate on ending the Ukraine war rather than “interfering” on Iran.

European governments have been on edge since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and a string of drone incursions over the past year – combined with repeated US signals that it may step back from defending the continent – has pushed security to the top of the agenda.

Mr Merz has made national security a central priority, unveiling unprecedented investment plans for a military long criticised as underfunded and under-equipped.

He has also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, with Germany remaining the second-largest individual supplier of aid after the US.

Nearing a year in office, Mr Merz’s popularity has sunk to new depths and in a recent poll the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the most popular party in Germany.