Pentagon: US to Pull 5K Troops From This Ally

The United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany in the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling an earlier threat by President Trump as he clashes with the German leader over the Iran war. Trump had threatened to withdraw troops from the NATO ally earlier this week after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being "humiliated" by Iranian leadership and criticized DC's lack of strategy in the war, per the AP. A Pentagon spokesman said in a statement that 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."

Germany hosts several US military facilities, including the headquarters of its European and African commands, Ramstein Air Base, and a medical center in Landstuhl, where casualties from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated. US nuclear missiles are also stationed in the country. The number of troops leaving Germany would be 14% of the 36,000 American service members stationed there. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called it "foreseeable" that the US would withdraw troops from Europe and Germany, while he sought to stress mutual benefit from the US military presence on the European continent.

News of the troop withdrawal drew swift pushback from Democrats in Congress, as well as from a hawkish Washington think tank. They said the move will benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin and weaken US security interests. The withdrawal "suggests American commitments to our allies are dependent on the president's mood," said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Trump ignored questions from reporters about the withdrawal on Friday as he boarded Air Force One in Ocala, Florida.

Trump made a similar threat in his first term, saying he'd pull about 9,500 of the roughly 34,500 US troops who were then stationed in Germany, but he didn't start the process, and Democratic President Biden formally stopped the planned withdrawal soon after taking office in 2021. Trump has mused for years about reducing the American military presence in Germany, and has railed against NATO for its refusal to assist Washington with the Iran war. More here. (Trump this week threatened to pull US troops from two other allies.)