USA Plans to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Within a Year

The United States plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany.

This was reported by CNN, citing Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Sean Parnell.

The withdrawal is expected to be completed within 6–12 months. It will involve, in particular, a US Army combat brigade, as well as a Long-Range Fires Battalion, which had previously been scheduled for deployment in Europe.

“The Secretary of Defense has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany,” said Sean Parnell.

As the publication notes, this decision was made against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The German leader publicly criticized Washington’s policy in the war against Iran, which drew a sharp reaction from the US administration.

The Pentagon stated that the troop reduction is linked to a review of US force deployment in Europe and a broader strategy that involves reallocating resources to other regions, particularly the Indo-Pacific.

It is worth noting that despite the reduction, the total number of US troops in Germany still exceeds 30,000. As of December 2025, there were 36,436 active-duty US service members stationed in the country.

In addition, the US maintains Ramstein Air Base in Germany. It serves as the headquarters for US Air Forces in Europe, including a unit for airlift, airborne, and aeromedical evacuation operations.

Reports of a reduction in the US military presence in Europe began to emerge immediately after Donald Trump took office as president.

As part of the reorganization initiated by his administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the country aims to reorient its forces toward another region. At the same time, the US is pressuring its European NATO allies to increase defense spending and expand their armed forces.

According to US European Command, since 2022, the number of US troops in Europe has ranged from 75,000 to 105,000. About 63,000 were stationed there permanently, while the rest rotated in and out.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that European diplomats expected the US to reduce its military contingent in Europe by 20,000 troops.