Donald Trump has announced that the United States may reduce its military presence in Germany, escalating a dispute with Nato allies. In a post on Truth Social, the US president said his administration was 'studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time'.
The threat follows comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who suggested the Trump team was being outplayed in negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. Merz said the Iranians were 'very skilful at not negotiating', leaving US officials without results. Trump responded by accusing Merz of thinking it was 'OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon' and saying the chancellor 'doesn't know what he's talking about'.
Merz brushed off the criticism, saying his relationship with Trump remained 'as good as ever'. However, the threat to withdraw troops comes amid heightened tensions between the US and its European allies. Trump has previously threatened to leave Nato, citing allies' failure to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. While US law prevents a unilateral withdrawal, experts suggest the White House could undermine the alliance by reducing troop numbers in Europe.
The US has over 68,000 active-duty military personnel in Europe, with Germany hosting the largest contingent—more than 35,000 troops in 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service. German media puts the figure closer to 50,000. Trump has long criticised Nato members for not spending enough on defence, accusing them of 'ripping off' the US.
Ivo Daalder, former US permanent representative to Nato, said it was 'hard to see how any European country will now be able and willing to trust the United States to come to its defence'. The crisis has been described as the worst Nato has ever confronted, with Trump also threatening to invade Greenland and calling allies 'cowards'.
