US Plans to Reduce Troops in Germany by 5,000, Drawing Mixed Reactions on NATO Deterrence

May 5, 2026

The Pentagon announced plans to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months, reducing America's largest European deployment from over 36,000 active duty personnel. The decision, attributed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, drew sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers, who argue it undermines NATO deterrence against Russia and that troops should be repositioned eastward rather than withdrawn entirely. Democrat Adam Smith characterized the move as politically motivated vengeance lacking strategic justification. The announcement followed a public spat between President Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Iran policy, with Trump suggesting further cuts beyond 5,000 troops and hinting at withdrawals from Italy and Spain as part of a broader shift toward the Indo-Pacific region.

US Troop Withdrawal Decision and Pentagon Justification

▪The Pentagon said the troop withdrawal decision came from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
▪The US military deployment in Germany is by far its biggest in Europe, compared with about 12,000 in Italy and 10,000 in the UK.
▪The Pentagon decided to cut 5,000 US troops stationed in Germany.

Congressional and Political Reactions to the Withdrawal

▪Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers said the 5,000 troops should be moved further east rather than being withdrawn.
▪President Donald Trump said further troop cuts from Germany could take place beyond the 5,000 already announced.
▪Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers chair the Senate and House armed services committees respectively.
▪Donald Trump said the US is going to cut way down and is cutting a lot further than 5,000 troops.
▪Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers said the troop withdrawal risked undermining deterrence and would send the wrong signal to Russia.

NATO Alliance Concerns and European Defense Spending

▪Germany is now projected to spend €105.8bn on defence in 2027.
▪Donald Trump previously accused Germany of being delinquent because its military spending was well below NATO's target of 2% of GDP.
▪NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said NATO allies agreed to invest 5% of GDP in defense at the NATO summit in The Hague last year.
▪Germany's defence expenditure is set to reach 3.1% of GDP, taking into account other defence funds including Berlin's aid to Ukraine.
▪There are growing concerns within the 32-member NATO alliance that the US troop withdrawal decision could weaken the organisation.

Trump-Merz Diplomatic Tensions Over Iran Negotiations

▪Donald Trump responded to Friedrich Merz on Truth Social, saying Merz thought it was OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.
▪The spat between Donald Trump and Friedrich Merz was triggered by comments by Merz on Monday to students that the Americans clearly have no strategy.
▪The US troop withdrawal from Germany comes after Donald Trump criticised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for saying the US had been humiliated by Iranian negotiators.