The Pentagon said Friday it will pull about 5,000 U.S. troops out of Germany over the next six to 12 months, following a direct order from the top of the Defense Department.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the move in a statement to Fox News.
“The Secretary has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany,” Parnell said. “This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground.”
The reduction amounts to less than 15 percent of the roughly 36,000 active-duty U.S. troops currently based in Germany.
The country has hosted the largest American military presence in Europe for decades, with major bases that support operations across the continent and into the Middle East.
The announcement comes days after President Donald Trump publicly raised the idea of cutting troop numbers in Germany.
Trump pointed to recent criticism from German leaders about U.S. actions in the Iran conflict.
In a social media post earlier this week, Trump said his administration was reviewing the deployment.
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“The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Germany has long served as the central hub for U.S. forces in Europe. Ramstein Air Base and other installations there handle everything from medical evacuations to logistics for NATO missions.
According to people who are familiar with the planning, the cuts do not include closing any major bases.
This brave decision is the most recent step in Trump’s plan to change the size of America’s military presence abroad.
During his first term, he pressed NATO allies to spend more on defense and questioned the value of large U.S. garrisons in wealthy European countries.
He recently called out NATO allies for not stepping in and helping the U.S. in the ongoing war with Iran.
Trump had urged NATO allies to deploy a warship and secure the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had closed, paralyzing the flow of ships and tankers.
Also Read: Trump Hints at U.S. Troop Reduction in Germany as Relations With Merz Strain
The current withdrawal returns troop levels close to where they were prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which prompted a temporary increase.
White House officials say this will save money and allow the U.S. to focus on other important priorities. Pentagon planners have made it clear that the change is based on what is needed right now, not on a sudden crisis.
German officials have not yet issued a detailed response. Some European diplomats privately worry that further reductions could weaken NATO’s ability to respond quickly to threats from Russia.
Others note that Germany itself has increased defense spending in recent years and could shoulder more responsibility.
The withdrawal will happen gradually. Officials say most units will simply return home at the end of their normal rotations, rather than leaving in a rush. No combat units are expected to be part of the first wave.
This marks the first considerable reduction in U.S. forces in Germany since the Biden government’s earlier adjustments.
U.S. troops in Europe
Total U.S. troops in Europe still number well above 60,000, with significant presences in Italy, the United Kingdom, and newer eastern-flank locations like Poland and Romania.
The full impact on local German economies near the bases remains unclear. Many communities have grown dependent on the spending and positions tied to American service members.
Ahead of the withdrawal, commanders in Europe are also expected to adjust training schedules and alliance exercises.
NATO has scheduled major drills later this year. It is not yet clear whether the troop movement will disrupt planned drills.
