US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration is reviewing the possibility of reducing the number of American troops stationed in Germany, a move that could further strain relations with key European allies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States is “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany,” adding that a decision would be made in the near term.
The remarks come as Trump has openly criticized Germany and other NATO members for what he says is a failure to contribute adequately to shared security responsibilities, including naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior White House official had previously told Reuters that Trump had discussed pulling some US forces out of Europe earlier this month, reviving a long-standing position he has held since his first term in office.
According to data from the US Defense Manpower Data Center, the United States had just over 68,000 active-duty troops permanently stationed across Europe as of December 2025. More than half of those—around 36,400 personnel—are based in Germany, making it the largest hub for US forces on the continent. That number is significantly lower than during the Cold War, when roughly 250,000 US troops were stationed in Germany in the mid-1980s.
Friction over Iran and NATO burden-sharing
Trump’s comments come amid heightened tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, particularly over the ongoing war involving Iran. Earlier this week, Trump publicly dismissed remarks by Merz, who suggested that Iran was humiliating the United States during negotiations to end the two-month conflict. Merz later sought to downplay the dispute, saying relations with Washington remained solid despite disagreements.
The timing of Trump’s post also coincided with a visit to Washington by Germany’s top military officer, General Carsten Breuer, who met with senior US defense officials, including Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby. The discussions focused on Germany’s newly unveiled national military strategy—its first developed outside the NATO framework since World War II.
Colby publicly praised the German strategy, which outlines Berlin’s ambition to become Europe’s largest conventional military power, calling it a “clear path forward” and a sign that Germany is stepping up after years of reduced defense spending. He echoed Trump’s long-standing view that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security.
Breuer told reporters that US officials expressed strong appreciation for Germany’s plans and its financial commitment to strengthening its armed forces. He did not indicate that troop reductions were discussed during the meetings.
Strategic value of US presence
Trump has repeatedly argued that Germany and other European allies should spend more on defense, though he has welcomed NATO members’ recent agreement to increase military spending targets to 5% of GDP. Relations have nevertheless been strained, particularly after several NATO allies declined to back the US-led military action against Iran, which Trump launched alongside Israel without consulting them.
The issue of US troop levels in Germany is not new. During Trump’s first term, he pushed for a major reduction, though the plan was never fully implemented. American-German Institute President Jeff Rathke, a former US diplomat, noted that American forces in Germany serve US interests as much as Europe’s.
“US forces in Europe are not a charitable contribution to ungrateful Europeans,” Rathke said. “They are an instrument of America’s global military reach,” citing key facilities such as Ramstein Air Base.
Despite political tensions and Trump’s periodic threats to withdraw from NATO or reduce troop deployments, US and German military officials say operational cooperation between the two countries remains strong.
