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Pentagon Withdraws 5,000 Troops from Germany
The Pentagon has announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, a move described as foreseeable by German officials. Germany's defense minister emphasized mutual benefits of the U.S. presence in Europe and the need for Europeans to take more security responsibility. The drawdown follows a review of U.S. force posture amid broader tensions with European allies.
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The Pentagon announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. This reduction affects about one-seventh of the 36,000 American service members currently stationed in the country. The decision follows a thorough review of the Department of Defense's force posture in Europe, recognizing theater requirements and conditions on the ground, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.
Germany's defense minister responded to the announcement, stating that the drawdown was expected. The minister highlighted the mutual interests served by the U.S. military presence in Europe, particularly in Germany. Europe is taking steps to assume more responsibility for its security within the NATO alliance, the minister added.
“The presence of American soldiers in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the U.S." — Boris Pistorius, German defense minister, to dpa (The Washington Times). The defense minister told the German news agency dpa that the move was foreseeable. He stressed recent German efforts to strengthen its armed forces, speed up procurement, and develop infrastructure. These actions align with broader European recognition of the need to contribute more to shared security. A NATO spokesperson stated on X that the alliance is working with the U.S. to understand the details of the force posture decision in Germany. The adjustment highlights the importance of Europe investing more in defense and sharing greater responsibility for collective security. The spokesperson noted progress toward a NATO target of allies investing 5% of their economic output in defense. >"This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security.”
The troop withdrawal occurs amid deteriorating U.S. relations with Germany and other European allies. U.S. officials have expressed frustration over NATO allies' reluctance to participate in military actions against Iran. European leaders have criticized the U.S. approach to the conflict, with one German official stating that the U.S. is facing humiliation from Iranian leadership due to a lack of strategy.
