US President Trump orders withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany - media

President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months.

It was reported by journalists at The Hill.

“President Trump ordered the Pentagon on Friday to withdraw about 5,000 U.S. service members from Germany amid his public feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz,” the reporters stated.

According to a senior Pentagon official, the redeployment will return US troop levels to roughly what they were before 2022 and will affect a combat brigade, as well as likely other US units already stationed in Germany.

In addition, these changes will also affect a battalion of long-range missile systems that the previous administration had planned to deploy in the country later in 2026.

This decision was made amid the Trump administration’s dissatisfaction with Germany and other NATO allies over their lack of support for the US during the conflict with Iran.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Iran was “humiliating” the US by blocking the Strait of Hormuz and causing chaos in global energy markets.

Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the troop withdrawal in a statement to The Hill, noting that the decision “follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground.”

According to Parnell, the Pentagon expects to complete the troop withdrawal within the next 6–12 months.

On Wednesday, Trump stated that he is considering a possible reduction of the US military contingent in Germany, and that a decision should be made “within the very near future.”

This move is also driven by the tense relations between Washington and Berlin in recent weeks. Trump claims that Merz misjudged the threat posed by Iran.