US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany

The United States Government has ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 troops from Germany within the next year.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave the directive on Friday, May 1, 2026, in the latest rift in transatlantic ties over the Middle East war.

The move came as U.S. President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union will increase to 25 per cent next week, accusing the bloc of not complying with a trade deal inked last summer.

Trump has renewed criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday that Iran was “humiliating” the United States at the negotiating table.

Trump said Merz “thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!”

On Wednesday, the president said Washington was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction” of U.S. troops in Germany, adding that he would decide in a “short period of time.”

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Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on Friday: “We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months.

“This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground.”

During both of his terms in office, Trump has made a number of threats to slash U.S. troop numbers in Germany and other European allies, saying he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its defense rather than depending on United States.

Trump on Friday accused German automakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW of ripping off Americans, saying that Germany and “other European nations have not adhered to our trade deal.”

Germany would likely be hit hard by a sharp vehicle tariff, as it is responsible for a significant portion of EU auto exports.