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US Announces Withdrawal of 5,000 Troops from Germany
The Pentagon announced the withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. military personnel from Germany, prompting German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to emphasize Europe's need for greater security responsibility. Germany is expanding its armed forces and infrastructure amid ongoing NATO commitments. The move follows U.S. criticism of European defense spending.
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The GuardianAudio version
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U.S. officials are withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, where nearly 40,000 American troops are currently stationed. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on May 2, 2026, in Berlin that the withdrawal “had been foreseeable and expected.”
Pistorius stated that “the presence of American soldiers in Europe and especially in Germany” remains “in the interest of both sides.” He said “Germany is on the right track” in assuming more responsibility, pointing to the expansion of its Bundeswehr armed forces, greater and faster procurement of equipment, and the construction of infrastructure.
On April 30, 2026, the U.S. Army conducted the Combined Resolve exercise at training facilities in Hohenfels, southern Germany. Soldiers stood next to razor wire during a media day at the event.
Pistorius said Europe must assume greater responsibility for security in the region. Friedrich Merz stated that Europe must take more responsibility for its own security. Pistorius added that Europe needed to do more to ensure its own security while emphasizing shared military interests with the United States.
European NATO members, including Germany, have pledged to take on more responsibility for their own defense. The withdrawal underlines ongoing shifts in transatlantic defense dynamics.
