US authorises withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany following diplomatic row with Berlin

The US Department of Defence has authorised a reduction of 5,000 personnel from its military presence in Germany. This move, directed by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, is scheduled to be executed over the next six to 12 months. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the specific figure and timeline, stating that the order follows a thorough review of the Department's force posture in Europe.

The decision emerges from a diplomatic dispute between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concerning the ongoing conflict in Iran. Trump has publicly suggested similar reductions for US troops in Italy and Spain, citing those nations' reluctance to participate in operations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. While the US maintains a significant footprint of over 36,000 active duty troops in Germany, the administration is now prioritising allies who are willing to engage in the proposed military actions.

Chancellor Merz has accused the US of having no strategy, describing the situation as a humiliation for the nation after Iranian negotiators failed to reach a deal. In response, President Trump took to social media to criticise Merz's performance on immigration and energy policies, as well as his perceived support for Iran's potential acquisition of nuclear weapons. The friction highlights a growing divergence in strategic expectations between Washington and Berlin regarding the management of the regional crisis.

This reduction represents a renewed strategy under the current administration, distinct from a 2020 proposal to move 12,000 troops from Germany which was blocked by Congress and reversed by President Joe Biden. Although Germany has significantly increased its defence expenditure, projecting spending to reach 3.1 per cent of GDP by 2027, the US is proceeding with the withdrawal despite these financial commitments. The move aligns with a broader pattern of shifting US military focus, evidenced by a previous decision to reduce troop presence in Romania.

The current deployment in Germany remains the largest US military footprint in Europe, with approximately 12,000 troops stationed in Italy and a further 10,000 in the UK. Many of the personnel currently based in Germany are located at Ramstein Air Base outside Kaiserslautern. The reduction of 5,000 troops will leave a residual force, though the exact composition of the remaining contingent has not been detailed in the initial announcement.

The announcement underscores the volatile nature of transatlantic defence commitments under the Trump administration. As the US recalibrates its alliance management, the implications for European security architecture remain significant, particularly as the administration continues to question the utility of troops in nations that have not joined operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.