US to pull significantly more troops from Germany
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will withdraw significantly more than the previously planned 5,000 troops from Germany.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, the President confirmed the reduction would be "substantially higher." He cited dissatisfaction with European allies regarding their support in US-led operations against Iran.
Regional threats and geopolitical shifts
Trump also renewed threats to withdraw forces from Spain and Italy. He criticized both nations, labeling their support "terrible" during the ongoing regional conflicts involving the US and Israel.
This escalation follows an earlier order by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to remove 5,000 personnel within one year. The move targets the core of US presence in Europe.
A wake-up call for European defense
As of December 2025, the US Department of Defense stationed 68,000 troops in Europe. More than half, approximately 36,400, are currently based on German soil.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the decision as "predictable." However, Thomas Röwekamp, head of the Bundestag Defense Committee, called it a "wake-up call" while urging officials to avoid panic.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
