A planned withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany has sparked renewed debate over Europe’s defence capabilities, with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius urging European allies to assume greater responsibility for regional security.
The Pentagon confirmed the drawdown from Germany — the largest US military hub in Europe — amid rising tensions between Washington and European capitals over the Iran conflict and trade disputes.
US President Donald Trump indicated the move could be part of a broader reduction in American forces in Europe. “We’re going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,” he said while speaking to reporters in Florida.
The decision has drawn concern within Washington, with senior Republican lawmakers warning against reducing the US military footprint in Europe. They cautioned that any premature withdrawal could undermine deterrence against Russia and send the wrong signal to Moscow.
As part of the move, the United States has also scrapped plans to deploy a long-range missile battalion to Germany, a step previously seen as strengthening Nato’s deterrence posture in the region.
Pistorius said the partial withdrawal was expected and would affect a current US presence of nearly 40,000 troops in Germany, reiterating that Europe must strengthen its own defence capacity in response.
The Pentagon said the withdrawal would be carried out over the next six to 12 months but did not specify which bases would be impacted or whether the troops would be redeployed elsewhere.
Nato officials said the alliance is in discussions with Washington to clarify the details of the decision, while European leaders voiced concern over its implications for transatlantic security cooperation.
The development comes as tensions within the alliance grow over defence spending, the war in Ukraine, and broader geopolitical challenges, raising questions about the future of US military commitments in Europe.