US to slash German troop presence amid escalating Trump-Merz feud

The Pentagon is slashing its military footprint in Germany by 5,000 troops, a decision that has triggered rare agreement between US political rivals on just how problematic it all is.

Republican Senate Armed Services Committee chair Roger Wicker and his House counterpart Mike Rogers say the withdrawal undermines deterrence against Russia and sends the wrong message to Vladimir Putin. Both insist those 5,000 troops should head east instead of home.

The Pentagon claims the move reflects a thorough review of “theater requirements and conditions on the ground.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed off on the decision. Spokesman Sean Parnell expects the withdrawal to wrap up within six to twelve months.

President Trump went further Saturday, suggesting even deeper cuts could follow, without specifics. He’s previously floated removing troops from Italy and Spain as well.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius called the Pentagon decision “foreseeable” while emphasizing that American military presence in Europe serves mutual interests. NATO itself is seeking clarity from Washington.

House Armed Services Democrat Adam Smith attacked the decision as divorced from any coherent national security strategy, characterizing it instead as political vengeance. Republican Clay Higgins took the opposite tack, mocking Germany’s perceived arrogance and suggesting senators would be a better deployment there.

The withdrawal reflects broader tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Their spat erupted after Merz told students that America had “no strategy” and faced “humiliation” from Iran. Trump responded with posts questioning Merz’s grasp of Iran policy, and the troop announcement followed shortly after.

Germany hosts the largest US military presence in Europe, with roughly 36,000 active duty personnel stationed there. That dwarfs deployments in Italy (12,000) and the UK (10,000).

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned Saturday that internal NATO disintegration poses a greater threat than external enemies, urging allies to reverse the “disastrous trend.” NATO spokesperson Allison Hart framed the withdrawal as underscoring Europe’s need to boost defense spending further.

Germany has shifted dramatically on military spending under recent governments, now projected to hit 3.1 percent of GDP by 2027, well above NATO’s historical 2 percent target. That leaves Trump’s previous criticism of German “delinquency” somewhat outdated.