Germany’s defense minister on Saturday appeared to take in stride a Pentagon announcement that the United States plans to pull some 5,000 troops out of Germany, saying a drawdown was expected and emphasizing the mutual benefit of the longstanding U.S. deployment in Europe.
Boris Pistorius said Europe recognized and was acting on the necessity of doing more to ensure its own security within the U.S.-led NATO military alliance that counts Germany as a key member. He suggested America, too, gains from its military deployment in the continent.
“The presence of American soldiers in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the U.S.,” Mr. Pistorius told the German news agency dpa.
He called the move “foreseeable,” apparently alluding to President Donald Trump’s recent threat of a drawdown in Germany.
Still, the withdrawals planned over the next six to 12 months mark a new deterioration in U.S. relations with Germany, and European allies more broadly: President Trump has expressed exasperation over NATO allies’ unwillingness to join his campaign with Israel against Iran, and has lashed out at leaders like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Mr. Merz last week criticized the war in Iran, saying the U.S. is being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and calling out Washington’s lack of strategy.
Mr. Trump meanwhile accused the EU of not complying with its U.S. trade deal and announced plans to increase tariffs next week on cars and trucks produced in the bloc to 25%, a move that would be particularly damaging to Germany, a major automobile manufacturer.
At least one EU lawmaker called the tariff hike “unacceptable” and accused Mr. Trump of breaking yet another U.S. commitment on trade.
US increased troops after Russian invasion of Ukraine
A pullout of 5,000 soldiers from Germany would amount to about one-seventh of the 36,000 American service members stationed in the country: A sizable, but not critical drawdown. The Pentagon offered few details about which troops or operations would be affected.
More broadly, around 80,000-100,000 U.S. personnel are usually stationed in Europe – depending on operations, exercises, and troop rotations. The U.S. increased its European deployment after Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022. NATO allies like Germany have expected for over a year that these troops would be the first to leave.
Mr. Pistorius, in his comments to dpa, said, “We Europeans must take on more responsibility for our security,” while stressing recent efforts by Germany to boost its armed forces, accelerate procurement, and develop infrastructure.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart, in a post Saturday on X, said the trans-Atlantic alliance was “working with the U.S. to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany.”
“This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security,” she added, noting “progress” toward a target among NATO allies to each invest 5% of their economic output to defense.
A ‘thorough review’ prompted drawdown decision
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that the “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.”
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said the branches of the U.S. military didn’t have prior knowledge of the decision to draw down the 5,000 troops and learned about it “in real time.”
Most U.S troops in Germany come from the Army and Air Force.
Germany hosts several American military facilities, including the headquarters of the U.S. European and Africa commands, Ramstein Air Base and a medical center in Landstuhl, where casualties from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated. U.S. nuclear missiles are also stationed in the country.
Withdrawal of 5,000 troops – the size of a brigade combat team – from Germany would likely have limited impact on combat power, but “in terms of messaging of U.S. commitment though, it’s very different,” another U.S. defense official said.
The only permanent brigade combat team in Germany is the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, alongside an aviation brigade and other assets, which is considered to have an important role in America’s – and NATO’s – ability to deter threats.
GOP lawmakers voice concern about withdrawal plan
After swift pushback from Democrats on Friday, Republican leaders of both armed services committees in Congress said Saturday they were “very concerned” about the troop withdrawal, arguing that it sends the wrong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama also said the Pentagon had decided to cancel the planned deployment of the Army’s Long-Range Fires Battalion. Mr. Parnell’s statement made no mention of that.
Senator Wicker and Representative Rogers said any significant change to the U.S. force posture in Europe warrants review and coordination with Congress.
“We expect the Department to engage with its oversight committees in the days and weeks ahead on this decision and its implications for U.S. deterrence and transatlantic security,” they said in a joint statement.
They also noted that Germany has heeded Mr. Trump’s call to shoulder more of the burden of defense spending in Europe, while giving U.S. forces access to its bases and airspace in the war against Iran.
Mr. Trump has mused for years about reducing the American military presence in Germany, and has railed against NATO for its refusal to assist Washington in the war, which began on Feb. 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
American allies in NATO have braced for a U.S. troop withdrawal since Mr. Trump took office, with Washington warning that Europe would have to look after its own security, including that of Ukraine, in the future.
