US to pull 5,000 troops from Germany over diplomatic row with Berlin
Washington cites European reluctance to support the war effort as the catalyst for the move, which is expected to be completed within the next year.
The United States military is set to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. This decision, announced by the Pentagon on Friday, follows a sharp diplomatic dispute between President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concerning European reluctance to support the US-led war on Iran.
The announcement marks a significant shift in the US military footprint in Europe, where over 36,000 active-duty troops are currently stationed. The move is part of a broader strategy where President Trump is reviewing troop deployments in nations deemed insufficiently supportive of the war effort, with similar reductions previously threatened for Italy and Spain.
President Trump has publicly criticised Chancellor Merz for interfering with US efforts to eliminate the Iran nuclear threat. In a social media post, the President urged his German counterpart to focus more on the Russia-Ukraine conflict rather than hindering operations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Chancellor Merz has argued that the conflict is costly and damaging to the global economy. He compared the current situation to previous military quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan, stating that the war has a direct negative impact on Germany's economic output.
Reports indicate that the withdrawal is a direct response to comments made by Chancellor Merz, who described Iran as humiliating the US during negotiations. An anonymous official cited by media outlets stated that the President is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks.
While the specific timeline for the withdrawal remains an estimate with exact dates unconfirmed, the extent of the reduction is also unclear. It remains to be seen whether this will be a permanent reduction or a temporary measure, though the situation is heavily dependent on the ongoing diplomatic feud between Washington and Berlin.
