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President Trump has vowed to pull far more than 5,000 American troops from Germany, escalating a public feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and deepening rifts within his own party over U.S. military strategy in the wake of the Iran conflict.
The Pentagon announced last week it would reduce its Germany-based force by 5,000 troops within 12 months.
Trump, speaking to reporters in Florida on Saturday, signaled the cuts would go much further. “We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,” he said. The U.S. currently stations approximately 35,000 active-duty military personnel in Germany — the largest American troop presence in Europe.
The announcement drew sharp criticism from senior Republicans. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers of Alabama issued a joint statement expressing they were “very concerned” about the withdrawal, warning it risks “undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin.” The lawmakers noted that Germany has increased defense spending and provided logistical support for Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military operation against Iran.
NATO also weighed in, with spokesperson Allison Hart saying the alliance is working to understand the details of Washington’s decision while stressing that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense.
Merz had ignited the dispute last week by publicly criticizing U.S. strategy. “The Americans clearly have no strategy, and the problem with conflicts like this is always that you don’t just have to go in; you also have to get out again,” he said.
The broader fallout from the U.S.-Iran war continues to reverberate globally. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, though it has allowed non-U.S.- and non-Israeli-affiliated ships to pass for a toll.
On Sunday, a cargo ship near the strait was attacked by multiple small craft, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. Iran did not immediately claim responsibility.
Meanwhile, the State Department approved more than $8 billion in arms sales to Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, including a $4 billion Patriot missile defense package for Qatar and a $2.5 billion Integrated Battle Command System sale to Kuwait, as the administration works to deepen Gulf partnerships in the wake of the conflict.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran continue in a fragile ceasefire, though Trump said Saturday he could not imagine Tehran’s latest proposal would be acceptable.
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