The Pentagon announced yesterday (Friday) that it would withdraw about 5,000 US troops from Germany over a year, about 15 per cent of the forces present in the country, a measure announced after US President Donald Trump expressed annoyance at German Chancellor Friedrich Murch’s statements regarding the war in Iran.

“We anticipate that the withdrawal will be completed in the next six to 12 months,” Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell estimated. More than 36,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Germany, according to an official count completed at the end of 2025.

This announcement came after Trump said earlier this week that he was considering reducing the number of US armed forces stationed in Germany, a US NATO ally, after comments by Murch that angered him.

The German chancellor assessed on Monday that “the Americans obviously have no strategy” on Iran and that Tehran was “humiliating” the world’s strongest power.

“He thinks it’s OK for Iran to get a nuclear weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s saying,” Trump responded on Tuesday.

The following day, the US president wrote that Washington “has begun to study and consider the possible reduction” of the US military presence in Germany. “A decision will be made very soon,” he promised.

Democratic congressmen and senators yesterday criticised the Pentagon’s announcement.

“We must stand united with our allies, not sabotage each other’s security interests for petty nastiness,” said Senator Jean Shahin. Her colleague Jack Reid called on Donald Trump to reverse that decision, which he called a “serious mistake.”

“Reducing our military presence in Europe at a time when Russian forces continue to relentlessly attack Ukraine and harass our NATO allies is an invaluable gift to Vladimir Putin and suggests that American commitments to our allies are contingent on the president’s disposition,” the Democratic senator added.

Italy and Spain

In addition, also yesterday, Trump also indirectly lashed out at Germany and the country’s significant auto exports, announcing that he would raise tariffs on vehicles imported into the US from the EU to 25% “next week.”

Trump is particularly angry with the US’s European allies for not being willing to contribute diplomatically or militarily to the Israeli-American offensive against Iran or to the security of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has effectively blocked.

Over the past two weeks, the Republican has stepped up his criticisms of the Europeans, accusing them of not being committed to their own defense and NATO and of being overly dependent on U.S. military protection. He regularly draws the threat of U.S. disengagement.

In addition to Germany, Trump has said he is also considering reducing the number of US forces stationed in Italy and Spain.

“Maybe, I will undoubtedly do it. Why wouldn’t I?” he replied when asked about the possibility. “Italy has offered no help and Spain is horrible, absolutely horrible,” the US president added.

At the end of 2025, 12,662 U.S. troops were stationed in Italy and 3,814 in Spain, according to an official count.

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The EU stressed on Thursday that the presence of US troops in Europe “also serves US interests in the context of its global actions.”