The United States announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany within one year amid tensions between President Donald Trump and the German leadership, following criticism that the U.S. Iran war lacks a clear strategy.
On 1 May 2026, Sean Parnell, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, stated that about 5,000 American troops will be withdrawn from Germany within the next 6 to 12 months, after the U.S. reviewed its military strategy in Europe and assessed regional security conditions.
The U.S. stance came after President Trump expressed displeasure over German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's criticism of the U.S.-Iran conflict. The German leader said during a visit to a school in Germany on Monday that the U.S. is being embarrassed by Iran and viewed the war as lacking careful planning. He also noted Iran's expertise in avoiding negotiations, citing the example of a U.S. delegation visiting Pakistan but returning with no progress.
Trump responded by saying Chancellor Merz did not know what he was talking about and announced that the U.S. government was considering reducing troops in Germany. Trump had previously threatened to withdraw troops from Germany in 2020 during his first term, when Angela Merkel was Germany's chancellor.
Germany is a strategic hub for the U.S. in Europe, hosting Ramstein Air Base, the command center for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as well as NATO operations. According to U.S. Department of Defense personnel data from December 2025, there were 36,436 permanent U.S. troops stationed in Germany. Therefore, even after the withdrawal, the U.S. will still have over 30,000 troops deployed in Germany.
Source: CNN