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Pentagon plans to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany: Media
Trump has lashed out at European allies for not doing more to assist the US-Israel war on Iran.
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IANS - Sat, 02, May 2026
- 00:58 EDT
- 36
Representative image / Xinhua
The Pentagon is planning to withdraw about 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, a senior defence official said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent remarks on the U.S. war with Iran had been "inappropriate and unhelpful," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was quoted by U.S. media as saying.
Earlier this week, Merz criticized the United States for its "planless" military engagement in Iran, saying that the United States "is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership."
In response, Trump lashed out at the German leader, saying he "doesn't know what he's talking about" and is indifferent to Iran's nuclear ambitions, Xinhua news agency reported.
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Trump wrote on social media on April 29 that the United States is considering a possible reduction of troops in Germany, and the decision will be made "over the next short period of time." He said April 30 that he may also reduce U.S. military presence in Spain and Italy.
"Why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely," said Trump, again slamming European allies for not helping in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
Germany is prepared for the possible reduction of the U.S. troops in the country, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said April 30.
Earlier, Trump has lashed out at European allies for not doing more to assist the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, and had stated on April 29 that he was thinking of pulling troops out of European countries deemed insufficiently supportive.
More than 36,000 U.S. active duty troops were deployed to bases throughout Germany as of the end of last year, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians, according to Defence Department data. Germany also hosts the headquarters of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, and Ramstein Air Base serves as a key hub for U.S. military operations.
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