The German Defense Minister indicated that the U.S. order to withdraw troops was "already anticipated" amid tensions after President Donald Trump clashed verbally with Germany's Chancellor over failed Iran negotiations. Meanwhile, NATO and allied members voiced serious concerns that this could weaken Europe.
Boris Pistorius, Germany's Minister of Defense, stated that the U.S. decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany was "predictable." However, he emphasized that the presence of American troops in Europe, especially in Germany, remains mutually beneficial for both countries.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) issued a statement saying the alliance is coordinating with the U.S. to urgently request details and understand the background of this decision.
This move by the U.S. government followed President Donald Trump's sharp criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, after the German leader said the U.S. was being "disrespected" by Iran in ongoing war-ending talks. Trump declared via social media, "We will reduce troop numbers further, definitely by more than 5,000."
Currently, the U.S. has over 36,000 troops stationed in Germany, making it the largest American military base in Europe, compared to Italy with 12,000 troops and the United Kingdom with 10,000.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that the greatest threat to the transatlantic alliance is not external enemies but "internal division" among the allies themselves. Meanwhile, senior U.S. Republican lawmakers in Congress, including Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, expressed concerns that the troop withdrawal could weaken Europe’s deterrence capability.
Pistorius stated that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security. Under Chancellor Merz’s government, Germany has significantly increased its defense budget, expected to rise to 105 billion euros by 2027, or 3.1% of GDP—well above NATO’s original 2% target—to address uncertainty and support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
The conflict began when Chancellor Merz told students that "America lacks a clear strategy" and was being manipulated by Iran during negotiations. Trump responded on Truth Social, saying Merz "doesn’t know what he’s talking about" and accused him of allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, followed by the order to withdraw troops.
A U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson said the order came from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and the troop withdrawal process is expected to be completed within 6 to 12 months amid the global energy crisis, with Iran continuing to block the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks that began in late February.
. BBC