US-Germany Relations Deteriorate as Trump Pulls 5,000 Troops

US President Donald Trump has once again shaken relations with his European allies after confirming plans to withdraw more than 5,000 US troops from Germany. The statement comes amid escalating transatlantic tensions related to the war in the Middle East.

Cited from detikNews on Sunday (3/5/2026), the Pentagon had previously announced on Friday a plan to reduce 5,000 troops. However, a day later, Trump stated that the number to be withdrawn would be larger.

“We will reduce far more, and we will reduce more than 5,000,” Trump said.

Trump did not provide further details on the plan.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the troop withdrawal is estimated to be completed within the next six to twelve months.

NATO stated that it is “working with the US to understand the details of their decisions on force posture in Germany.”

“This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue investing more in defence and taking a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security,” NATO spokesperson Allison Hart wrote on her X account.

This move occurs amid disputes between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. On the previous Monday, Merz stated that Iran had humiliated Washington at the negotiating table.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the withdrawal of US troops from Europe and Germany had been anticipated.

As of 31 December 2025, there were 36,436 active US troops in Germany. This number is larger than in Italy, with 12,662 troops, and Spain, with 3,814 personnel.

This policy also coincides with Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union, from 15 percent to 25 percent starting next week. Trump accused the bloc of failing to comply with the trade agreement signed last summer.