U.S. Announces Withdrawal of Up to 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Diplomatic Tensions

The Department of Defense has announced plans to withdraw up to 5,000 service members from bases in Germany, a move that comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the United States and Germany. The decision was made following a review of military force posture in Europe and reflects current theater requirements and conditions on the ground. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the order was given by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The withdrawal is expected to take six to twelve months to complete, though it remains unclear which specific units or bases will be affected. The United States currently maintains five garrisons in Germany, with approximately 36,000 active-duty troops stationed there as of December 2025. Both U.S. European Command and Africa Command are based in the country.

This decision follows a history of efforts to reduce or remove American forces from Germany, including during the Trump administration. Tensions escalated earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized U.S. policy toward Iran, leading to public comments from President Trump about reconsidering troop levels in Germany, as well as potential withdrawals from Spain and Italy. The move has raised questions about its impact on U.S.-German relations and NATO's collective defense strategy in Europe.