Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة تخطط لسحب 5000 جندي من ألمانيا
According to BBC News,
The US Department of Defence plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. This decision follows escalating tensions between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war with Iran. The announcement comes a day after Trump criticized Merz for suggesting that the US had been “humiliated” by Iranian negotiators.
Trump took to social media to express his discontent with Merz, labeling him as doing a “terrible job” and highlighting various issues including immigration and energy. The Pentagon’s spokesman, Sean Parnell, stated that the order had come from Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and that the withdrawal will be completed within the next six to twelve months, a decision made after a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe.
The US maintains a significant military presence in Germany, with more than 36,000 active duty troops stationed at various bases. Trump has also hinted at the possibility of reducing troop numbers in other NATO allies such as Italy and Spain, criticizing their lack of support in the Iran conflict.
Merz, addressing university students, claimed that the US lacks a strategic plan and expressed concerns over the perceived humiliation of the American nation by Iranian leadership. In response, Trump accused Merz of endorsing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and stated that Germany is suffering economically due to poor leadership.
The proposed withdrawal marks a significant shift in US military policy, as the current deployment in Germany is the largest in Europe, dwarfing troop numbers in Italy and the UK. Previous attempts to reduce troop levels in Germany have been blocked by Congress, and any changes will likely continue to face scrutiny as the situation evolves.
