Trump Announces Plans to Pull ‘A Lot’ More Troops From Germany

President Trump said the U.S. will pull “a lot” more troops from Germany beyond an initial reduction of 5,000 soldiers. Trump cited Germany’s failure to meet NATO spending targets as the reason for the decision. The Washington Times reported that the president also warned he could cut troops from Italy and Spain if those countries continue resisting U.S. initiatives on other matters.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius played down the immediate impact of the planned cut. Pistorius told Politico that “If we are to remain transatlantic, we must strengthen the European pillar within NATO.” He stressed Europe’s ongoing push for enhanced defense capabilities rather than focusing on the size of the U.S. withdrawal.

European leaders described the move as new proof they must pursue greater self-reliance in defense. A Semafor analysis noted the drawdown poses a dilemma for Europe as it considers how to fill any resulting security gaps. France24’s summary of U.S. military presence in Europe listed current American deployments but did not characterize the announced reduction as unexpected or rift-widening.

Key Republicans in Congress pushed back on the drawdown, arguing it sends a problematic signal to adversaries. Fox News reported that Congress could attempt to block the troop cuts through legislation, though the Trump administration might circumvent such efforts using executive authority. No specific timeline for additional reductions was provided in the reporting.

The U.S. maintains a substantial military footprint in Europe with thousands of personnel stationed across multiple countries. Trump’s statements followed long-standing criticisms of uneven NATO burden-sharing. Pistorius emphasized strengthening Europe’s role inside the alliance rather than portraying the U.S. decision as a crisis.