German President Steinmeier Visits Sweden, Discusses US Troop Adjustments in Europe

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Stockholm, Sweden, on May 6, 2026, where he held a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and toured the Muskö Naval Base outside the capital. Breaking Defense reported that Steinmeier addressed the recent order for American troop withdrawals from Germany, saying it does not yet pose a risk to the country’s strategic bases.

“It is a major [step] that the USA is drawing troops from Europe.

You know, it’s not yet so far that strategic bases are in danger,” he said. Steinmeier noted there are around 30,000 to 37,000 American soldiers in Germany and stressed that Europe should do more as US presence decreases. He did not mention any specific strategic bases in his comments.

Germany hosts Ramstein Air Base, the largest US military community outside the United States and home to US Air Forces in Europe. The base handles the only USAFE airlift, airdrop, and evacuation missions and serves as a hub for the American extended nuclear deterrence and nuclear-sharing program with European partners.

The comments follow an order by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to withdraw roughly 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next year, which a Pentagon spokesman confirmed to Breaking Defense on Friday.

During the visit, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson highlighted security issues in the region. He said the Baltic Sea has probably not been so challenged in modern times as it is today with sudden damage to underwater cables. At the same time, he noted it has not been so well protected in modern times, not least because of all the NATO members now surrounding it in recent years.

Kristersson said that depending on how the war in Ukraine ends will define the security environment for us for a generation to come.