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Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers said they were “very concerned”, arguing that U.S. forces should not be withdrawn from Europe but repositioned further east.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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