Trump Says US Troop Reduction From Germany Could Go 'A Lot Further' As Rift Escalates

Last Updated:May 03, 2026, 15:59 IST

The Pentagon announced the US will withdraw roughly 5,000 troops over the next six to 12 months following a "thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe."

US President Donald Trump has announced that Washington plans to remove “a lot further" than the initial 5,000 troops the Pentagon said it would withdraw from Germany over the next year, after a rift with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“We’re going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000," he told reporters in South Florida on Saturday before boarding Air Force One, CNN reported.

His remarks came a day after the Pentagon announced the US will withdraw roughly 5,000 troops over the next six to 12 months following a “thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe."

Why Is Trump Reducing US Forces In Germany?

The troop reduction comes in the aftermath of a deteriorating diplomatic relationship between Trump and Merz, primarily fuelled by a sharp disagreement over the escalating conflict with Iran. The row was triggered after Merz said the US was being “humiliated" by Iran.

While speaking to students last week, Merz said, “The Americans clearly have no strategy, and the problem with conflicts like this is always that you don’t just have to go in; you also have to get out again. We saw that all too painfully in Afghanistan, for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq."

ALSO READ: ‘If They Misbehave…’: Trump To Review Iran’s Proposal To End War, Says Fresh Strikes ‘Possible’

In a sharp response to Merz’s remarks, Trump said the German Chancellor did not know what he was talking about and should focus on fixing his “broken country" first.

“The Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy, and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including Germany, a safer place!" the US President said on Truth Social.

The German Chancellor maintained that his personal relationship with Trump remains stable despite the recent exchange of barbs. However, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius called Trump’s move to cut troops “foreseeable", showing the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security.

Germany houses the Ramstein Air Base, which is the headquarters for the US Air Forces in Europe and a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) installation, according to its website.

This troop withdrawal raises fundamental questions about the future of NATO and the reliability of the American security umbrella. The decision is expected to force Merz’s government to reconsider its own defence spending and leadership role in Europe.

News world Trump Says US Troop Reduction From Germany Could Go 'A Lot Further' As Rift Escalates

Read More