Trump says US will cut its number of troops in Germany ‘way down’

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on May 2 doubled down on Washington’s decision to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany, as a rift in transatlantic ties deepens over the Middle East war.

The Pentagon announced the 5,000-troop reduction on May 1, but Mr Trump told reporters on May 2 that “we’re going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000”. He did not elaborate.

The move follows a spat between Mr Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who earlier said that Iran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on May 1 the withdrawal was expected “to be completed over the next six to 12 months”.

NATO said it was “working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany”.

“This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defence and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security,” NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart wrote on X.

There were 36,436 active-duty US troops in NATO ally Germany as at Dec 31, 2025, compared with 12,662 in Italy and 3,814 in Spain.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on May 2 the US troop withdrawal “from Europe and also from Germany was to be expected”.

It also came as Mr Trump announced that tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union would jump from 15 per cent to 25 per cent next week, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with a trade deal signed last summer.

Republican concern

The decision to reduce the number of troops in Germany is being met with scepticism by top Republican lawmakers who oversee US military policy.

In a joint statement on May 2, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, chairmen of the Armed Services committees in their respective Chambers, warned that the move risks “sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin”.

Even though European allies are boosting defence spending, “translating that investment into the military capability needed to assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence will take time”, they said.

The duo noted that Germany had heeded Mr Trump’s calls for greater spending on defence and that it had allowed American planes to use German bases and airspace during the ongoing conflict with Iran.

‘Why shouldn’t I?’

Mr Trump has threatened to slash US troop numbers in Germany and other European allies during both his White House terms, saying he wants Europe to take greater responsibility for its defence rather than depending on Washington.

He now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the Middle East war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran’s forces have effectively closed.

Mr Trump said on April 30 he might pull US troops from Italy and Spain because of their opposition to the Iran war.

“Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” he told reporters.

“Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Mr Trump said.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on April 30 that Berlin was “prepared” for a reduction in US troops and “discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies”.

However, Mr Wadephul said large American bases in Germany are “not up for discussion at all” and cited the example of Ramstein Air Base, which he said has “an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike”. AFP