U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled that his administration is considering a reduction of American troops stationed in Germany, in a move that could further strain already tense transatlantic relations. On April 29, Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. is “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany,” adding that a decision would be made “over the next short period of time.”
The statement comes amid a growing diplomatic rift between Washington and Berlin, particularly following criticism from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over U.S. policy toward Iran.
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A shift in military posture
As of late 2025, more than 36,000 U.S. troops were stationed in Germany, making it the largest American military presence in Europe. The forces are spread across multiple bases, including the strategically significant Ramstein Air Base, a key logistical hub for U.S. operations across the region. The White House has not yet issued a formal statement elaborating on Trump’s remarks.
A troop reduction would mark a significant shift in U.S. defense posture in Europe, where Germany has long served as a central hub for American military operations and NATO coordination.
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The announcement follows remarks by Chancellor Merz earlier in the week, in which he criticized Washington’s approach to Iran. Speaking during an event with university students, Merz said the United States “clearly has no strategy” on Iran and questioned the lack of a defined “exit path” in ongoing negotiations. “The problem with conflicts like this is always: You don’t just have to get in, you have to get out again,” he said, “We saw that very painfully in Afghanistan for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq.”
He further argued that Iran’s negotiating team is “very good at not negotiating,” suggesting that repeated diplomatic efforts by the U.S. had yielded little progress. According to reports, Merz also described the situation as one in which “the entire country” was being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership.
While visiting a military installation in northern Germany, Merz emphasized the importance of NATO’s defense structure and “transatlantic unity,” but stopped short of directly addressing Trump’s troop reduction comments.
Diplomatic friction
Trump responded forcefully on his Truth Social platform, accusing Merz of misunderstanding the complexities of the Iran nuclear issue. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Trump wrote, adding, “No wonder Germany is doing so badly in economic and other respects.”
Despite the exchange, Merz later stated that his “personal relationship” with Trump remains positive, though he did not directly address concerns about a potential U.S. troop withdrawal. According to Reuters, Merz declined to comment further on the troop reduction proposal.
This is not the first time Trump has raised the possibility of scaling back U.S. forces in Germany. During his first term, he proposed withdrawing approximately 12,000 troops, with plans to redeploy some to other NATO countries and return others to the U.S. That proposal faced resistance in Congress and was ultimately halted, before being reversed under the Biden administration.
During his presidency, Trump repeatedly criticized Germany for failing to meet NATO’s 2 percent defense spending target and for relying heavily on U.S. military protection. In recent years, however, Germany has significantly increased its defense budget, with projections showing spending could reach €105.8 billion by 2027, about 3.1 percent of GDP
Implications for NATO
Following a meeting with Trump in Washington in March, Merz indicated that he had received assurances that U.S. forces would remain in Germany, describing the outcome as “not surprising.” The latest developments come against the backdrop of broader disagreements between the U.S. and its European allies over foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East.
Rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and differing approaches to Iran have widened divisions within the alliance. Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO partners in recent months, at times describing them as ineffective and suggesting that the United States may reevaluate its role within the alliance.