Pentagon withdraws 5,000 US troops from Germany; Trump threatens Italy and Spain next
Primary region Europe
Tags Diplomacy · Policy
Regions Europe
The Pentagon announced withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, its largest European base, on May 1-2, 2026. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the drawdown should spur Europe to strengthen its own defences, calling it 'anticipated.' Trump threatened to also withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain, following public criticism of the US-Israeli war on Iran by both countries' leaders. Two senior Republican lawmakers — Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers — expressed concern, saying the troops should not leave Europe. NATO is seeking clarification on the details, with a spokesperson saying the announcement underscores the need for European members to invest more in their own defence. The withdrawal is expected to take place over the next six to twelve months. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that 'the greatest threat to the transatlantic community are not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance.'
Strategic interpretation
The withdrawal is directly linked to European allies' refusal to support US operations in the Strait of Hormuz, signaling that Trump is willing to use troop presence as leverage in diplomatic disputes. This accelerates European defense autonomy efforts — Germany is already on track to spend over 3% of GDP on defense — but also weakens NATO's deterrent posture at a time of ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East. The bipartisan Republican concern in Congress may constrain further withdrawals.