Trump Considers Reducing U.S. Troop Levels in Germany Amid NATO Allies’ Lack of Support in Iran Conflict

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States is reviewing a possible reduction in American troop levels in Germany, escalating tensions with NATO ally Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Germany’s criticism of the U.S.-led effort against Iran.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time.” The statement follows Merz’s recent remarks accusing the U.S. of being “humiliated” by Iran and lacking a clear strategy in the two-month-old conflict.

The U.S. currently maintains approximately 35,000–40,000 troops in Germany, the largest American military presence in Europe. Key installations include Ramstein Air Base, headquarters for U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Trump made a similar push during his first term, announcing in 2020 the withdrawal of about 9,500 troops from Germany over what he viewed as insufficient defense spending by Berlin. That plan was halted by the Biden administration in 2021.

The latest review is directly tied to broader frustration with NATO allies who have provided little to no support in the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran and the subsequent naval blockade of Iranian ports. Trump has repeatedly criticized the alliance for refusing to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global seaborne oil passes. Germany and other major European NATO members have largely stayed on the sidelines, citing concerns over escalation and economic fallout from the closure of the strait.

Merz, who met with Trump at the White House in March shortly after strikes on Iran began, has expressed growing unease about the conflict’s impact on Europe. On Wednesday he acknowledged suffering “considerably in Germany and in Europe from the consequences of, for example, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” while urging a swift resolution.

The troop review fits into Trump’s long-standing view that the U.S. has shouldered a disproportionate burden for European security while allies free-ride on defense spending and fail to back America in key crises. No final decision on troop numbers has been made, and Pentagon officials have not commented publicly on the timing or scale of any potential reductions.

The announcement underscores ongoing questions about the value of large forward deployments when key NATO partners decline to support U.S. operations in critical theaters like the Middle East. A decision on Germany is expected in the coming weeks.