World

US withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, US officials say

By Reuters Reuters
Military vehicles drive during the U.S. Army Combined Resolve exercise at the U.S. Army's southern Germany training facilities in Hohenfels, Germany, April 30, 2026. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
Military vehicles drive during the U.S. Army Combined Resolve exercise at the U.S. Army's southern Germany training facilities in Hohenfels, Germany, April 30, 2026. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth Angelika Warmuth REUTERS

WASHINGTON - The United States is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, in an apparent U.S. rebuke to the close NATO ally amid a widening rift between President Donald Trump and Europe over the Iran war.

Trump had threatened a drawdown in forces earlier this week after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday the Iranians were humiliating the U.S. in talks to end the two-month-old war.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next six to twelve months.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 2:37 PM.

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER