Pentagon to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany

The Pentagon announced on May 1, 2026, that it would withdraw approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months, prompting President Donald Trump to state the reductions would extend much further. Speaking to reporters in Florida the following day, Trump said, "We're going to cut way down. And we're cutting a lot further than 5,000."

Germany hosts the largest U.S. military presence in Europe, with about 36,000 active-duty service members stationed there as of late 2025, out of 80,000 to 100,000 across the continent. The initial drawdown is expected to affect units such as the Stryker Brigade of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Rose Barracks near Vilseck, though at least 8,000 troops will remain at the Grafenwöhr training area. The Pentagon also canceled plans to deploy a long-range fires battalion equipped with Tomahawk and hypersonic missiles to Germany, a move originally proposed under the previous administration.

The decision follows a review of U.S. force posture in Europe, amid frustrations over European allies' limited support for U.S. operations in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Tensions escalated after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized...