Trump had recently announced that he would consider a corresponding step. He had previously expressed clear criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz because he had made critical comments about the US offensive against Iran. The most important questions and answers.
05/02/2026, 06:3405/02/2026, 06:34
What was announced?
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of around 5,000 US soldiers from Germany. It is assumed that the withdrawal will be completed within the next six to twelve months, a Pentagon spokesman told the German Press Agency. This decision follows a thorough review of the US troop presence in Europe. It takes into account the requirements of the areas of operation as well as the local conditions, it was said.
Pete Hegseth (April 16, 2026). Image: keystone
How many soldiers are stationed in Germany in total?
There have been dozens of large US military bases in Europe for decades. They are of enormous importance in American missions around the world – for example in the Middle East: troops, weapons, ships and aircraft are stationed here, drones are controlled and injured people are treated. In Germany, these include the US High Command for Europe (EUCOM) in Stuttgart and, as a US Air Force hub, Ramstein Airfield in Rhineland-Palatinate. The USA maintains other important bases in Italy and Great Britain.
According to information from the US military in mid-April, around 86,000 soldiers are currently stationed in Europe – around 39,000 of them in Germany. The number changes regularly, also due to rotations and exercises.
At the end of last year, the US Congress decided on a security mechanism: the total number of armed forces permanently under the European Command’s area of responsibility must not be less than 76,000 for more than 45 days. After that, certain reporting channels would have to be followed in order to achieve a reduction.
It was only in March that Trump promised the Chancellor during another visit to Washington that the USA wanted to maintain its troop presence in Germany. “This is good news, but I didn’t expect it otherwise,” said the CDU chairman after a meeting with Trump.
Didn’t Trump already want to withdraw troops?
But: Trump had already threatened to reduce the troop contingent in Germany during his first term in office (2017 to 2021). A few months before he left the White House, he announced that he wanted to withdraw 12,000 of the 35,000 US soldiers from Germany at the time. Several thousand of them were to be relocated within Europe, while others were to return to the USA.
At the time, Trump described the project as a punitive action for what he saw as a lack of German military spending. His successor Joe Biden then stopped the plans after taking office.
In his second term in office, Trump initially gave Germany hope that the US soldiers stationed there would remain at their current troop levels. When Merz visited Washington last summer, when asked by a reporter, he said that if Germany wanted the American soldiers there, he would be willing to do so. «Yes, we will do that. That’s no problem.”
What happened between Trump and Merz?
The relationship between the two heads of state has deteriorated significantly in recent days. The trigger was, among other things, a statement by Merz about the US and Israel’s war on Iran.
The relationship was even better: Friedrich Merz visiting Donald Trump in the White House, March 3, 2026.Image: keystone
On Monday, the German Chancellor strongly criticized the US’s actions against Iran during a discussion with students in Sauerland: The quick solution to the “problem” that was initially sought had not been achieved. And: The USA could not end the war quickly, “because the Iranians are obviously stronger than expected and the Americans obviously don’t have a really convincing strategy in the negotiations.” An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian government, said Merz.
Trump’s response came immediately on Tuesday: “He has no idea what he’s talking about!” the Republican wrote on Truth Social. Already at this point, Trump claimed “that Germany is doing so badly, both economically and in other respects!” He accused Merz of agreeing that Iran had nuclear weapons and praised his own actions.
Two days later, the US President followed up: “The German Chancellor should spend more time ending the war between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He accused Merz of having been “completely ineffective” in the Ukraine war so far. He also needs to get Germany back under control instead of interfering in other matters.
Judging by Trump’s comments, the personal relationship between the two seemed to have reached a new low. However, Merz countered this impression on Wednesday at a press conference in Berlin. “The personal relationship between the American President and me remains good – at least from my point of view,” he said. “We are still in good discussions with each other.”
(lak/sda/dpa)