A day after the US Defense Department ordered the pullback of around 5,000 troops stationed in Germany, US President Donald Trump said he plans to cut the number of American service members even further. Speaking to reporters in Florida on Saturday (May 2) he said "We're going to cut way down and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000."&nbsp;According to a spokesperson for the Defense Department said the withdrawal would be completed in the next six to 12 months, reported AFP.<h2>"It was foreseeable that US would withdraw troops</h2>&nbsp;The US troop withdrawal invoked reactions from German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. On Saturday (May 2) Pistorius acknowledged that the presence of US forces in Europe especially Germany is in "our interest and US." He, however, stressed the need for European countries to take larger responsibility of security in the region.&nbsp;"Presence of US soldiers in Europe and especially Germany is in our interest and of US," said Pistorius and added, &nbsp;"It was foreseeable that US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany".&nbsp;He then pressed on the need for European countries to take control of their own security."We European must take greater responsibility for our security. Germany is growing its armed forces, procuring more equipment more quickly, building more infrastructure," said Pistorius.&nbsp;"For all future missions, we will coordinate closely with our allies, for example within group of five which is Britain, France, Poland and Italy," he further added.&nbsp;German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, also reacted by saying that his country was prepared for any decision from the US.&nbsp;"We are prepared for that, we are discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all Nato bodies, and we are expecting decisions from the Americans about this," said Wadephul.&nbsp;

Germany currently hosts more than 36,000 US troops, making it the largest American military hub in Europe. These forces have been critical for operations projecting US power into the Middle East.

A day after the US Defense Department ordered the pullback of around 5,000 troops stationed in Germany, US President Donald Trump said he plans to cut the number of American service members even further. Speaking to reporters in Florida on Saturday (May 2) he said "We're going to cut way down and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000." According to a spokesperson for the Defense Department said the withdrawal would be completed in the next six to 12 months, reported AFP. "It was foreseeable that US would withdraw troops The US troop withdrawal invoked reactions from German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. On Saturday (May 2) Pistorius acknowledged that the presence of US forces in Europe especially Germany is in "our interest and US." He, however, stressed the need for European countries to take larger responsibility of security in the region. "Presence of US soldiers in Europe and especially Germany is in our interest and of US," said Pistorius and added, "It was foreseeable that US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany". He then pressed on the need for European countries to take control of their own security. "We European must take greater responsibility for our security. Germany is growing its armed forces, procuring more equipment more quickly, building more infrastructure," said Pistorius. "For all future missions, we will coordinate closely with our allies, for example within group of five which is Britain, France, Poland and Italy," he further added. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, also reacted by saying that his country was prepared for any decision from the US. "We are prepared for that, we are discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all Nato bodies, and we are expecting decisions from the Americans about this," said Wadephul.

Germany currently hosts more than 36,000 US troops, making it the largest American military hub in Europe. These forces have been critical for operations projecting US power into the Middle East.

Trump says troop reduction in Germany could exceed 'a lot further'

Hours after United States President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Saturday (May 2) acknowledged that the presence of US forces in Europe especially Germany is in "our interest and US." He, however, stressed the need for European countries to take larger responsibility of security in the region.&nbsp;"Presence of US soldiers in Europe and especially Germany is in our interest and of US," said Pistorius and added, &nbsp;"It was foreseeable that US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany".&nbsp;He then pressed on the need for European countries to take control of their own security."We European must take greater responsibility for our security. Germany is growing its armed forces, procuring more equipment more quickly, building more infrastructure," said Pistorius.&nbsp;"For all future missions, we will coordinate closely with our allies, for example within group of five which is Britain, France, Poland and Italy," he further added.<h2>Germany is the largest American military hub in Europe</h2>&nbsp;The Pentagon has long said its strategic goal of shifting Europe toward greater responsibility is for its own conventional defense while gradually reducing the American military footprint on the continent.&nbsp;Germany currently hosts more than 36,000 US troops, making it the largest American military hub in Europe. These forces have been critical for operations projecting US power into the Middle East, with key bases supporting logistics and refueling missions for Operation Epic Fury, the US campaign against Iran.&nbsp;The cuts would return US troop levels in Europe to their 2022 levels, before Russia invaded Ukraine. The move follows earlier reductions, including the withdrawal of a combat brigade from Romania.&nbsp;Trump has also floated potential troop reductions in Spain and Italy, criticizing Spain for insufficient defense spending and objecting to its refusal to support US operations against Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Germany is the largest American military hub in Europe. These forces have been critical for operations projecting US power into the Middle East.

Hours after United States President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Saturday (May 2) acknowledged that the presence of US forces in Europe especially Germany is in "our interest and US." He, however, stressed the need for European countries to take larger responsibility of security in the region. "Presence of US soldiers in Europe and especially Germany is in our interest and of US," said Pistorius and added, "It was foreseeable that US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany". He then pressed on the need for European countries to take control of their own security. "We European must take greater responsibility for our security. Germany is growing its armed forces, procuring more equipment more quickly, building more infrastructure," said Pistorius. "For all future missions, we will coordinate closely with our allies, for example within group of five which is Britain, France, Poland and Italy," he further added. Germany is the largest American military hub in Europe The Pentagon has long said its strategic goal of shifting Europe toward greater responsibility is for its own conventional defense while gradually reducing the American military footprint on the continent. Germany currently hosts more than 36,000 US troops, making it the largest American military hub in Europe. These forces have been critical for operations projecting US power into the Middle East, with key bases supporting logistics and refueling missions for Operation Epic Fury, the US campaign against Iran. The cuts would return US troop levels in Europe to their 2022 levels, before Russia invaded Ukraine. The move follows earlier reductions, including the withdrawal of a combat brigade from Romania. Trump has also floated potential troop reductions in Spain and Italy, criticizing Spain for insufficient defense spending and objecting to its refusal to support US operations against Iran.

Germany is the largest American military hub in Europe. These forces have been critical for operations projecting US power into the Middle East.

'We European must take greater responsibility for our security', says German Defence Minister after Trump orders US troop withdrawal

President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, escalating tensions with Berlin and NATO allies amid disagreements over support for the ongoing war in Iran, the Pentagon said on Friday (May 1). The Pentagon has long said its strategic goal of shifting Europe toward greater responsibility for its own conventional defense while gradually reducing the American military footprint on the continent. The announcement came shortly after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, saying Iran’s leadership was “humiliating” the United States and questioning whether Washington had a clear exit strategy.&nbsp;Germany currently hosts more than 36,000 US troops, making it the largest American military hub in Europe. These forces have been critical for operations projecting US power into the Middle East, with key bases supporting logistics and refueling missions for Operation Epic Fury, the US campaign against Iran. “This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe,” said Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell. “We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months.” Officials confirmed the move will remove an Army brigade and reverse a Biden-era plan to deploy long-range missile units to Germany, previously announced at the 2024 NATO summit.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-goodnight-brother-let-s-go-to-bed-trump-mocks-ilhan-omar-s-accent-during-florida-speech-sparks-controversy-1777672062790">‘Goodnight brother, let’s go to bed’: Trump mocks Ilhan Omar's accent during Florida speech, sparks controversy</a>&nbsp;The cuts would return US troop levels in Europe to their 2022 levels, before Russia invaded Ukraine. The move follows earlier reductions, including the withdrawal of a combat brigade from Romania. Trump has also floated potential troop reductions in Spain and Italy, criticizing Spain for insufficient defense spending and objecting to its refusal to support US operations against Iran. Germany, however, has been praised by US officials for increasing military spending. Despite political tensions, German leaders have sought to maintain cooperation with Washington.&nbsp;“We are prepared for it. We are discussing the matter closely and in a spirit of trust within all NATO bodies,” said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, adding that decisions should be made in a way that is appropriate among allies and partners. Germany hosts major US installations, including Ramstein Air Base, US European Command, US Africa Command, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest US military hospital outside the United States.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/from-herder-to-film-star-ding-zhen-s-incredible-journey-1777665197422/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/from-herder-to-film-star-ding-zhen-s-incredible-journey-1777665197422/embed</a>&nbsp;The first Trump administration had previously planned to remove nearly 12,000 troops from Germany, framing it as a strategic shift and criticism of Germany’s defense spending. That plan was later paused by President Joe Biden. Despite tensions in Europe, the United Kingdom has allowed the U.S. to conduct bomber missions against Iran from its territory. US officials said the broader strategy is not simply European repositioning, but a long-term realignment of forces toward the Western Hemisphere and Indo-Pacific region.

Trump orders withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany amid NATO tensions, Iran war disputes, and shifting US military strategy in Europe

President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, escalating tensions with Berlin and NATO allies amid disagreements over support for the ongoing war in Iran, the Pentagon said on Friday (May 1). The Pentagon has long said its strategic goal of shifting Europe toward greater responsibility for its own conventional defense while gradually reducing the American military footprint on the continent. The announcement came shortly after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, saying Iran’s leadership was “humiliating” the United States and questioning whether Washington had a clear exit strategy. Germany currently hosts more than 36,000 US troops, making it the largest American military hub in Europe. These forces have been critical for operations projecting US power into the Middle East, with key bases supporting logistics and refueling missions for Operation Epic Fury, the US campaign against Iran. “This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe,” said Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell. “We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months.” Officials confirmed the move will remove an Army brigade and reverse a Biden-era plan to deploy long-range missile units to Germany, previously announced at the 2024 NATO summit. Also Read: ‘Goodnight brother, let’s go to bed’: Trump mocks Ilhan Omar's accent during Florida speech, sparks controversy The cuts would return US troop levels in Europe to their 2022 levels, before Russia invaded Ukraine. The move follows earlier reductions, including the withdrawal of a combat brigade from Romania. Trump has also floated potential troop reductions in Spain and Italy, criticizing Spain for insufficient defense spending and objecting to its refusal to support US operations against Iran. Germany, however, has been praised by US officials for increasing military spending. Despite political tensions, German leaders have sought to maintain cooperation with Washington. “We are prepared for it. We are discussing the matter closely and in a spirit of trust within all NATO bodies,” said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, adding that decisions should be made in a way that is appropriate among allies and partners. Germany hosts major US installations, including Ramstein Air Base, US European Command, US Africa Command, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest US military hospital outside the United States. https://www.wionews.com/videos/from-herder-to-film-star-ding-zhen-s-incredible-journey-1777665197422/embed The first Trump administration had previously planned to remove nearly 12,000 troops from Germany, framing it as a strategic shift and criticism of Germany’s defense spending. That plan was later paused by President Joe Biden. Despite tensions in Europe, the United Kingdom has allowed the U.S. to conduct bomber missions against Iran from its territory. US officials said the broader strategy is not simply European repositioning, but a long-term realignment of forces toward the Western Hemisphere and Indo-Pacific region.

Donald Trump orders 5,000 US troops withdrawn from Germany amid NATO tensions and Iran war disputes, reshaping US military presence in Europe

US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany as Trump's feud with Merz intensifies

The U.S. military on Wednesday unveiled plans to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany. Trump announced his intention last month to cut by about a third the 36,000-strong U.S. troop contingent in Germany

U.S to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany; Trump says 'The move is strategic'

US Troops withdrawal from Germany | Trump's move hints at growing cracks in NATO

US President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;has ordered the US military to remove nearly 9,500 troops from Germany in a move likely to raise concerns in Europe about the US commitment to the region.

The move would reduce US troop numbers in&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;to 25,000, compared with the 34,500 currently there, a senior US official said.

The official said the move was the result of months of work by America’s top military officer, General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and had nothing to do with tensions between Trump and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who&nbsp;thwarted Trump’s plan to host a G7 meeting this month.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/modern-piracy-did-united-states-reroute-a-shipment-of-face-masks-headed-to-germany-291024">'Modern piracy': Did United States reroute a shipment of face masks headed to Germany?</a>

A second senior administration official said the 9,500 troops would be sent elsewhere: some to Poland, some to other allied countries, and the rest would return home. The official said there was less need for the large contingent in Germany because of overall increased defence spending by the US-led Nato military alliance.

The second official said the change was ordered in a memorandum signed recently by Trump’s national security adviser, Robert O’Brien. The official said the United States started working on the plan last September and had just now got the pieces in place.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-german-spies-plundered-global-secrets-via-swiss-encryption-firm-report-280146">US, German spies plundered global secrets via Swiss encryption firm: Report</a>

The move is the latest twist in relations between Berlin and Washington, which have often been strained during Trump’s presidency. Trump has pressed Germany to raise defence spending and accused Berlin of being a captive of Russia due to its energy reliance.

About 17,000 US civilian employees support the US troops in Germany. It is believed the United States also has nuclear warheads there.

In May, the then US ambassador to Germany,&nbsp;Richard Grenell, accused Berlin of undermining Nato’s nuclear deterrent, taking aim at Merkel’s junior coalition partners after some of their leaders called for nuclear disarmament.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to remove nearly 9,500 troops from Germany in a move likely to raise concerns in Europe about the US commitment to the region.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to remove nearly 9,500 troops from Germany in a move likely to raise concerns in Europe about the US commitment to the region. The move would reduce US troop numbers in Germany to 25,000, compared with the 34,500 currently there, a senior US official said. The official said the move was the result of months of work by America’s top military officer, General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and had nothing to do with tensions between Trump and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who thwarted Trump’s plan to host a G7 meeting this month. Also read: 'Modern piracy': Did United States reroute a shipment of face masks headed to Germany? A second senior administration official said the 9,500 troops would be sent elsewhere: some to Poland, some to other allied countries, and the rest would return home. The official said there was less need for the large contingent in Germany because of overall increased defence spending by the US-led Nato military alliance. The second official said the change was ordered in a memorandum signed recently by Trump’s national security adviser, Robert O’Brien. The official said the United States started working on the plan last September and had just now got the pieces in place. Also read: US, German spies plundered global secrets via Swiss encryption firm: Report The move is the latest twist in relations between Berlin and Washington, which have often been strained during Trump’s presidency. Trump has pressed Germany to raise defence spending and accused Berlin of being a captive of Russia due to its energy reliance. About 17,000 US civilian employees support the US troops in Germany. It is believed the United States also has nuclear warheads there. In May, the then US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, accused Berlin of undermining Nato’s nuclear deterrent, taking aim at Merkel’s junior coalition partners after some of their leaders called for nuclear disarmament.

Donald Trump orders 9,500 US troops to depart from Germany