US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany amid Trump spat with Merz
The United States plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months, according to a Pentagon announcement. The move follows tensions between President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over comments on the Iran conflict. The withdrawal will reduce U.S. troop levels in Europe to roughly pre-2022 levels before the Ukraine war buildup.
- ▪The U.S. will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany within the next six to 12 months.
- ▪President Trump cited 'counterproductive remarks' by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about the Iran war as justification for the drawdown.
- ▪Germany hosts around 35,000 U.S. military personnel, more than any other European country.
- ▪The Pentagon stated the withdrawal aligns with efforts to make Europe the primary security provider on the continent.
- ▪A brigade combat team and a long-range fires battalion will be among the forces removed from Germany.
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US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany amid Trump spat with MerzTopic:World Politics11m ago11 minutes agoSat 2 May 2026 at 12:55amA Pentagon official says Donald Trump is reacting to "counterproductive remarks" from Germany. (AP: Matt Rourke)In short:The United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the coming months, the Pentagon has announced.US President Donald Trump had threatened to withdraw some troops from the NATO ally earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the Iranian leadership was humiliating the US.The Pentagon said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).