Trump orders withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany amid feud with Merz [View all]

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5860094-trump-orders-troop-withdrawal-germany/

Trump orders withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany amid feud with Merz
by Filip Timotija - 05/01/26 5:52 PM ET

President Trump ordered the Pentagon on Friday to withdraw about 5,000 U.S. service members from Germany amid his public feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The redeployment of troops will bring the number of service members roughly to pre-2022 levels and will affect a brigade combat team and potentially other U.S. forces already in Germany, according to a senior Pentagon official.

It comes as the Trump administration has expressed frustration with Germany and other NATO allies over not stepping up enough during America’s war with Iran.

Merz said this week that Iran was “humiliating” the U.S. as it chokes off the Strait of Hormuz and causes chaos in global energy markets.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the withdrawal in a statement to The Hill, saying the decision “follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground.”

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