NATO assessing details of US troop withdrawal from Germany | NATO News
U.S. to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Tensions Over Iran
Published on May 2, 2026
The United States plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months, amid escalating tensions with European allies regarding the conflict in Iran. NATO is currently assessing the implications of this decision.
In a statement on Saturday, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the alliance is “working with the U.S. to understand the details of their decision regarding force posture in Germany.” The Pentagon’s timeline for this troop reduction suggests it will unfold gradually.
The troop withdrawal comes amid ongoing disputes between U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders, particularly German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump has criticized European countries for not contributing sufficiently to the U.S.-led efforts in Iran and responded sharply to Merz’s comments that suggested the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership.
Trump urged Merz to refrain from “interfering” in the matter concerning Iran, instead advising the Chancellor to focus on domestic issues. The U.S. president has expressed discontent with NATO, describing it as a “paper tiger” and “absolutely useless.”
Former U.S. diplomat Donald Jensen indicated that the announced troop withdrawal could signal a shift in U.S. military priorities, potentially altering Europe’s security framework. Jensen stated, “The reduction or repositioning suggests a changing U.S. strategic set of objectives,” noting that American forces may be redirected closer to China, which Washington currently views as a larger threat than Russia.
In response to the U.S. announcement, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius acknowledged that Germany had anticipated the troop withdrawal and emphasized the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. He cited Germany’s ongoing efforts to expand its military capabilities and improve infrastructure.
Hart echoed Pistorius’s remarks, asserting that the U.S. decision “underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and share greater responsibility for our collective security.”
During last year’s NATO summit in The Hague, member nations agreed to increase defense spending to as much as 5 percent of their budgets, more than doubling the previous target of 2 percent.
