US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany as NATO and Europe respond to Iran war pressure
The United States has announced it will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, prompting fresh attention on Washington's military role in Europe and the wider response to the Iran war.
The Pentagon said on Friday that the troops would be removed from Germany, where more than 36,000 US personnel are currently stationed.
Donald Trump said the following day that he would go "a lot further" than the initial drawdown.
The move comes as NATO and European leaders assess how to adapt to a possible reduction in the US commitment to the continent's security.
Mark Rutte, the NATO chief, said Europeans had "gotten the message" and were stepping up.
The decision matters because the US military presence in Europe has long been seen as a deterrent to Russia and a base for operations beyond the continent, including in the Middle East.
The current conflict with Iran has added to the strategic pressure on allied governments.
The announcement also follows tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Merz said last week that the US was being "humiliated" by Iran and accused Washington of lacking a clear strategy.
There are usually between 80,000 and 100,000 US troops on the European continent, with more than 36,000 in Germany, around 12,000 in Italy and about 10,000 in the United Kingdom, according to Pentagon figures cited in the reporting.
The US European Command, known as EUCOM, covers some 50 countries and territories and has been central to American military planning in Europe since 1947.
The deployment has also supported operations in the Arctic, Africa and the Middle East.
