Germany has said a planned reduction of U.S. troops should push Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence, as concerns grow in Washington over the impact of the move on regional security.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the withdrawal of around 5,000 American troops from Germany was expected and should act as a wake-up call.
“We Europeans must take on more responsibility for our own security,” he said, adding that Germany was already expanding its armed forces and improving military readiness.
The Pentagon confirmed the drawdown on Friday (1 May), marking a shift in the U.S. military footprint in Europe at a time of strained relations between Washington and its allies.
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated the reduction could go further, telling reporters: “We’re going to cut way down and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.”
Senior Republicans have raised alarm over the decision, warning it could weaken NATO’s deterrence against Russia.
Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers said they were “very concerned”, arguing that U.S. forces should not be withdrawn from Europe but repositioned further east.
“Prematurely reducing America’s forward presence in Europe before those capabilities are fully realised risks undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin,” they said in a joint statement.
The withdrawal will affect a U.S. presence of nearly 40,000 troops in Germany and is expected to be carried out over the next six to 12 months. Officials have not said which bases will be impacted or where the troops will be redeployed.
The move also includes the cancellation of a planned deployment of long-range Tomahawk missile systems to Germany, a step Berlin had supported as a key deterrent.
A NATO spokesperson said the alliance was working with Washington to understand the details of the decision.
The announcement comes amid broader strains in transatlantic relations, including disagreements over the war in Iran and trade disputes. The United States has also threatened higher tariffs on European car imports, a move that could hit Germany’s economy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of growing risks to the alliance, saying: “The greatest threat to the transatlantic community are not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance.”
Germany hosts key U.S. military facilities, including Ramstein airbase, which have long supported American operations in Europe and beyond. While European nations have pledged to strengthen their own defence capabilities, officials acknowledge it will take time to close existing gaps.
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Kyrgyzstan’s ex-second in command, Kamchybek Tashiev, has been convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiev and Japarov had ruled the Central Asian nation in tandem since 2020, until the former was unexpectedly ousted in February.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
Uzbekistan will open an embassy in Georgia, the Central Asian country’s presidency has said. The announcement follows talks between Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
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