Germany Says Trump's U.S. Troop Withdrawal Was "Foreseeable," Calls for Closer European Defense Cooperation
Trump plans to withdraw over 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, prompting Berlin to call for stronger European defense cooperation and NATO to seek clarification on Washington's strategy.
Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw 5,000 American troops from Germany was "foreseeable," while NATO seeks clarification from Washington. Pistorius told DPA that "the presence of American troops in Europe, particularly in Germany, is in our interest and in America's interest."
The U.S. military deployment in Germany—currently numbering over 36,000 troops—represents the largest American military presence in Europe, compared to 12,000 troops in Italy and 10,000 in the United Kingdom.
When asked about the troop reduction on Saturday, May 2, Trump said "we will reduce significantly, and we will reduce more than 5,000" without providing additional details. He also indicated the U.S. will withdraw troops from Italy and Spain.
Pistorius stated that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security and that Germany will work more closely with European allies. "Germany is already on the right path," he noted, pointing to Germany's substantial increase in defense spending in recent years.
Trump had previously accused Germany of "shirking its duties" due to defense spending below NATO's 2% GDP target, but the situation has changed under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Germany is expected to spend 105.8 billion euros (over 4 trillion baht) on defense in 2025.
Meanwhile, NATO spokesperson Alison Hart said the alliance is "working with the United States to understand the details of their decision." The move follows Trump's criticism of Merz for stating the U.S. had been "humiliated" by Iranian negotiators in the ongoing war.
Last year, the U.S. reduced troop numbers in Romania as part of Trump's plan to shift American military focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region, amid growing concern among NATO's 32 member states that the latest decision could weaken the alliance. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that "the greatest threat to the transatlantic community is not an external enemy, but internal fragmentation."
