U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened a drawdown in U.S. troops amid a public row with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran.
The Pentagon’s announcement would still leave around 33,000 U.S. troops in Germany, reversing a buildup that began under President Joe Biden.
A European Commission spokesperson told POLITICO the U.S. military footprint in Europe was a “significant contribution to NATO deterrence and defense” and formed the “foundation of collective defense for 23 EU Member States who are also Allies” in NATO. The spokesperson added that EU countries were meeting their NATO commitments by increasing military spending at “an unprecedented pace.”
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the withdrawal in response to “conditions on the ground” after reviewing U.S. troop buildup in Europe. “We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to 12 months,” Parnell said.
Reacting to the Pentagon’s announcement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk deplored the “disastrous trend” in Europe-U.S. relations. “The greatest threat to the transatlantic community [is] the ongoing disintegration of our alliance,” Tusk said in an X post on Saturday. “We must all do what it takes to reverse this disastrous trend.”
Trump has also threatened to remove U.S. troops from Spain and Italy, in renewed attacks against Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Italian leader Giorgia Meloni. Madrid and Rome, like Berlin, have been critical of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said he would “probably” remove American troops from the two southern European countries. He said Italy had “not been of any help to us,” and accused Spain of being “absolutely horrible.” Both Spain and Italy have denied U.S. military planes that are taking part in the Iran war from using their bases.
Victor Jack contributed reporting.
