The Pentagon has decided to withdraw approximately 5,000 soldiers from Germany, a move criticized by Donald Tusk as a “catastrophic trend” threatening transatlantic ties.
US Troop Withdrawal from Germany Confirmed
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has authorized the withdrawal of around 5,000 troops from Germany, according to a department spokesperson Sean Parnell. The decision follows a thorough review of force deployments in Europe, based on local needs and conditions.
The withdrawal operation is expected to be completed within the next 6-12 months.
Potential Troop Redeployment to Indo-Pacific Region
CBS News reports, citing anonymous sources within the Defense Department, that some of the troops being withdrawn from Europe may be redeployed to the Indo-Pacific region.
Current US Military Presence in Europe
Currently, approximately 36,000 US soldiers are stationed in Germany, second only to Japan with around 45,000. Earlier in April, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US was considering “punishing” allies like Spain and Germany for insufficient support regarding Iran by shifting troops to countries like Poland, Romania, Lithuania, or Greece.
Reuters later reported that Trump discussed withdrawing some US troops from Europe with his advisors.
Tusk Warns of Transatlantic Alliance Erosion
“The biggest threat to the transatlantic community is not its external enemies, but the progressing disintegration of our alliance. We must all do everything in our power to reverse this catastrophic trend,” commented Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X.
NATO Response to US Decision
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated that the alliance is “working with the United States to understand the details of their decision regarding force presence in Germany.”
Hart emphasized the need for increased European investment in defense and greater responsibility for collective security, noting progress made with allies agreeing to invest 5% of GDP at last year’s NATO summit in The Hague.
German Defense Minister’s Reaction
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius acknowledged that the presence of US troops in Germany is in the interest of both countries and stated the decision was foreseeable.
Pistorius stressed the importance of continued cooperation with US forces stationed at Ramstein, Grafenwoehr, Frankfurt, and other locations, and called for greater European responsibility for its own security, highlighting the expansion of the Bundeswehr and increased procurement of equipment.
European Troop Numbers and Rotational Forces
At the end of last year, approximately 68,000 troops were permanently stationed in Europe, not including around 10,000 rotational forces in Poland. Previous estimates had placed the total number of troops at around 80,000.
“Deterioration of German-American Relations”
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the Pentagon’s decision to reduce US troop numbers in Germany represents a reversal of the reinforcement that occurred under President Joe Biden following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The newspaper also notes that the planned installation of US medium-range missiles in Germany, agreed upon by Biden and former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2024, will likely be canceled.
US Military Infrastructure in Germany
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung highlights key US military facilities in Germany, including the airbase in Ramstein, a crucial logistical hub; the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest US military hospital outside the US; the Grafenwoehr training area, the largest US military training area outside the US; and the EUCOM and AFRICOM headquarters in Stuttgart and Wiesbaden.
Impact on Regional Security
The decision to withdraw troops is seen as a “deterioration of German-American relations” and may have noticeable consequences for the affected regions, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The newspaper recalls a period of strained relations between Trump and Merkel during the conflict with Iran.
