US President Donald Trump has ordered to immediately withdraw approximately 5,000 American troops stationed at the base of NATO member ally Germany, Pentagon officials said Friday. Trump, this past week, threatened the drawdown as the rift over the Iran war deepened between him and Europe.
The US president was angered by criticism from the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said Monday that Iran was humiliating the US in talks brokered by Islamabad to end the two-month-old conflict in the Middle East. Merz, appearing critical about the US exit strategy, stated that he failed to see the goals Washington was pursuing.
A senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reportedly noted that the recent German rhetoric had been “inappropriate and unhelpful,” and that the US President was reacting to Germany’s “counterproductive remarks.”
The US is withdrawing one brigade combat team as well as other forces from the German defence bases, the officials said. The US withdrawal will not affect the medical support bases, like Landstuhl, where thousands of troops are taken for medical treatment.
Trump Berates NATO Allies Over Refusal to Engage in Iran War
Since launching the strikes on Iran in coordination with Israel, Trump has been threatening Germany and other NATO allies over their refusal to engage in the war and the unblocking of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this week, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he might pull troops from Germany as the NATO allies, including the UK and Germany, have not responded to Washington’s request to actively engage in the Middle East.
Last week, Reuters published an exclusive report citing an internal Pentagon email that outlined options to “punish NATO allies.” According to the email, Washington believes that NATO failed to support US operations in the Iran war, and therefore must face consequences for their actions. Officials discussed suspending Spain from NATO and reviewing the US position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands, as America’s and NATO’s partnership frayed. It is unclear if more US withdrawals from NATO states will be ordered. At an Oval Office presser, Trump said “probably” when asked by a reporter whether he would consider pulling US troops out of Italy and Spain soon.
Trump threatened to impose a US trade embargo on Spain, berating the socialist government for not allowing military bases in Spain—Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base— to be used by the American forces to launch attacks on Iran. The US President also had a heated back-and-forth with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over the Iran war and his criticism of Pope Leo.
“The Europeans have not stepped up when America needed them,” a Pentagon official said. “This cannot be a one-way street.”
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the withdrawal figure in a statement published Friday, saying that the withdrawal would be completed over the next six months. Germany hosts as many as 35,000 active-duty US military personnel, the largest presence in Europe.
“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,” a Pentagon spokesperson said. US troop drawdown would bring the American military presence in Europe to pre-2022 levels, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The German embassy in Washington, DC, declined to comment on the development.
