According to multiple major media reports, the United States will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. As of December 2025, approximately 36,000 US troops were stationed in the country, media reports indicate. The planned cut represents roughly 14 percent of the American contingent.
Germany has long been a cornerstone of the US military posture in Europe, with the current contingent playing a pivotal role in NATO's collective defense and serving as a critical hub for operations beyond the continent. This contingent is part of a broader American military footprint in Europe. A major media outlet reports that the US had around 68,000 active-duty personnel permanently assigned in Europe as of that date.
When rotational forces are included, the total presence ranges between 80,000 and 100,000, the same outlet notes. These forces are distributed across more than a dozen European nations, with Germany hosting the largest number. The outlet specifies that there are 31 permanent bases and 19 military sites across the continent, including key installations like Ramstein Air Base, which serve as hubs for operations in Africa and the Middle East.
Italy hosts 12,662 US troops, making it the second-largest host nation. Britain follows with 10,156, Spain with 3,814, and Poland has 369 permanently assigned personnel plus approximately 10,000 rotational troops. The reported decision follows a public disagreement between Trump and Merz over the Iran conflict, according to the media reports.
While specifics remain sparse, reports indicate the dispute erupted after Merz publicly criticized the US military campaign in Iran, questioning its legality and effectiveness, a stance that Trump reportedly took as a personal affront. There is conflicting information about who announced the withdrawal. The Independent reported that the Pentagon made the announcement, while Euronews stated that President Trump announced it.
This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theatre requirements and conditions on the ground.
This discrepancy is significant because it could indicate whether the decision is a routine military adjustment or a retaliatory political move. In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the decision was the result of a thorough review of force posture and reflected theater conditions and requirements. The current situation echoes previous events.
During his first term, Trump previously threatened to withdraw troops from Germany, but the plan was never implemented, a major media report notes. President Biden subsequently halted the proposed withdrawal in 2021, according to the same outlet. The revival of the withdrawal idea has drawn strong criticism from US lawmakers.
Congressional Democrats, a major media source reports, have condemned the move as benefiting Russia and undermining American security. They argue that degrading the US military presence in Germany would undercut NATO's eastern flank defenses at a time when Russia continues to threaten Ukraine and the Baltic states. Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that the withdrawal suggests American commitments depend on shifting presidential moods, and urged an immediate halt to prevent irreversible consequences for alliances and security, the same source relayed.
Several Democratic lawmakers are reportedly exploring legislative options to block the reduction, recalling successful bipartisan efforts to prevent a similar drawdown in 2020. International perspectives have also emerged. Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, in an interview with TV4 Nyheterna, defended Chancellor Merz's position.
She stated that Merz was justified in his criticism of Trump, TV4 Nyheterna reported. Wallström launched a broader critique of Trump's Iran policy, arguing that the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal was a major error and that the subsequent bombing campaign was illegal and a major failure, the outlet reported. She further contended that the military action had destabilized the region and eroded global norms, compounding the damage already inflicted by the decision to leave the nuclear accord.
This suggests American commitments to our allies are dependent on the president's mood. The president should immediately cease this reckless action before he causes irreversible consequences for our alliances and long-term national security.
She also highlighted the consequences for transatlantic relations, warning that the trust gap between the US and Europe would deepen and predicting that the withdrawal would accelerate the European debate on increasing armaments and developing independent defense capabilities, TV4 Nyheterna relayed. Wallström described the unpredictability of American policy as dangerous, stressing that the situation is extremely serious and more dialogue is urgently needed, the outlet reported. Addressing nuclear policy, Wallström challenged the notion that more nuclear weapons enhance security, pointing out that nuclear deterrence had failed and that the nuclear threat emboldened Russia's invasion of Ukraine, TV4 Nyheterna reported.
She expressed hope that the US opposition would act to halt what she termed the dangerous direction. Despite the severity, Wallström said there must be a way to find more dialogue, underscoring the need for a diplomatic surge to rebuild trust. Amid these developments, a major media outlet also reports that the US is scrapping plans to station a long-range artillery unit in Europe.
This decision, coupled with the troop reduction, is seen by critics as evidence of a broader US pullback from its traditional security role in Europe, potentially emboldening rivals and straining the NATO alliance, the media reports suggest. The Pentagon's official justification emphasizes an operational review, yet the coincidence with the Trump-Merkz clash has fueled perceptions of political retribution. Moreover, there is no certainty that the withdrawal will actually materialize; similar threats in the past were reversed, and the decision could face legal or congressional obstacles.
European allies have not yet issued formal reactions to the plan, leaving NATO's near-term force alignment in question. Analysts note that the US presence in Germany has been a symbol of the transatlantic alliance since the Cold War, and any significant reduction would mark a historic shift. The lack of a clear timeline from the Pentagon has left allies and military planners in limbo, as they assess the potential impact on collective defense arrangements.
According to TV4 Nyheterna, Wallström expressed a final note of concern, hoping that the US opposition would find a way to intervene and prevent what she called a dangerous direction.