Trump’s fury hits: the US withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany

The US Department of Defense Pentagon is pulling out about 5,000 American soldiers from Germany.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on Friday that the Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered a troop reduction.

“We expect the withdrawal to be completed in the next six to twelve months,” Parnell said, according to Bloomberg.

CBS Newsille those who spoke according to the defense authorities, the measure is a demonstration of the president Donald Trump’s of dissatisfaction with the level of aid European allies have provided to the United States in the Iran war.

Trump has been publicly criticized by the German chancellor Friedrich Merzia and leaders of other NATO member countries for not directly participating in US military actions against Iran.

The United States has a significant military presence in Germany. According to the Pentagon, last December more than 36,000 active duty soldiers were stationed at bases across Germany. In addition, nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians were stationed, CBS News reports.

According to CBS News, Japan is the only foreign country with a higher number of US troops.

Germany is also home to the headquarters of US Forces Europe and Forces Africa, and its Ramstein Air Base is a key hub for US operations.

Some of the troops being transferred from Europe may return to the United States and move on to other foreign countries, defense officials say. The goal is to focus on the Pentagon’s priorities at home and in the Pacific region.

Trump already hinted earlier this week that he was considering reducing troops in Germany. The background is the German Chancellor’s comments that the Iranian negotiators are “humiliating” the United States and that the Americans have no strategy for Iran.

More broadly, the background is also Trump’s dissatisfaction with the European NATO allies. For years now, he has criticized NATO member countries for being too dependent on the United States. Trump has also called the coalition a “paper tiger”. The 2023 law prevents the president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without congressional approval.

Addendum 2.5. at 01:27. Added information from Pentagon spokesperson’s statement.