Pentagon withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany as Trump-Merz feud over Iran war escalates
Primary region US
Tags Diplomacy · Policy
Regions US · Europe
The Pentagon announced on May 1, 2026, that approximately 5,000 US troops will be withdrawn from Germany over the next 6-12 months, amounting to about one-seventh of the ~36,000 service members stationed there. The move follows a diplomatic feud between President Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said Iran was 'humiliating' Washington at the negotiating table. Trump subsequently said the US would go 'a lot further than 5,000.' Senior Republicans in Congress sharply criticized the withdrawal, citing ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said the adjustment 'underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense.' German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called the withdrawal 'to be expected,' while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said large American bases like Ramstein are 'not up for discussion.' Trump also threatened troop withdrawals from Italy and Spain over their refusal to support US operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Strategic interpretation
The withdrawal weaponizes the US troop presence in Europe as leverage in a foreign policy dispute, signaling that security guarantees are conditional on diplomatic alignment. This accelerates European strategic autonomy discussions and the potential invocation of the EU mutual defence clause as a NATO substitute. The unusual Republican congressional pushback suggests internal party fractures over the transatlantic alliance that could constrain Trump's future force posture decisions.