MAY 3, 2026

Trump administration orders withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany; Italy and Spain withdrawals under consideration

The Pentagon announced Friday it would withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months, a decision Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered following a review of U.S. force posture in Europe. The announcement leaves more than 30,000 U.S. troops in Germany and comes amid tensions between Washington and several NATO allies over the Iran conflict. President Trump also indicated he is weighing similar reductions in Italy and Spain.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that the withdrawal order came from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and reflected "a thorough review of the Department's force posture in Europe" and conditions on the ground. The drawdown reverses a troop buildup that began under President Biden following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius responded Saturday by describing the decision as "anticipated" and said Germany is prepared to take on more responsibility for its own defense. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had said days earlier that the U.S. was being "humiliated" by Iranian leadership, a remark that drew attention in Washington. Merz subsequently said Germany maintains "close and trusting contact" with partners in Washington "with mutual respect and a fair sharing of burdens." German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Ramstein Air Base "serves an irreplaceable function for both the U.S. and us." Germany is already on track to spend more than three percent of GDP on defense by next year, well above NATO's two-percent benchmark, according to NPR.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart posted on X that the alliance was working with the United States to understand the details of the withdrawal and that the announcement underscored the need for European members to invest more in their own defense.