Donald Trump's promise to reduce the number of US troops in Germany has reopened the question of the US role in Europe. There are usually between 80,000 and 100,000 US troops on the continent, more than 36,000 of whom are stationed in Germany. The Pentagon announced on Friday that it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, but Trump said the next day that he would go "much further" than that.
Tensions with Merco
The US military presence is a legacy of World War II, when Americans helped stabilize and rebuild Europe, and the Cold War, during which units served as a bulwark against Soviet expansion. More recently, these forces have played a key role in supporting operations in the Arctic, Africa, and the Middle East, including the current conflict with Iran.
However, Trump has broken with a long-standing bipartisan consensus in the US, criticizing European allies in NATO and carrying out threats to reduce America's commitment to the continent's security.
The latest announcement followed rising tensions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said last week that Iran was "humiliating" the US and accused Washington of lacking a clear strategy.
American command
The U.S. European Command (EUCOM), established in 1947, is one of 11 combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense and covers about 50 countries and territories. In addition to the more than 36,000 troops in Germany, more than 12,000 are stationed in Italy and another 10,000 in the United Kingdom, according to Pentagon data in December.
The Pentagon has offered few details about which units or operations would be affected by the withdrawal. Germany is home to the headquarters of the US European and African commands, Ramstein Air Base and the Landstuhl military hospital, where wounded soldiers from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated.
The country also has US nuclear weapons. The US has increased its presence in Europe since Russia launched an all-out war against Ukraine four years ago, and NATO allies like Germany have expected for more than a year that these troops would be the first to leave.
Strategic importance
In addition to deterring Russia, the US military presence in Europe helps Washington project power around the world. US General Alexus Grinkevich, commander of US and NATO forces in Europe, confirmed the benefits of a strong presence on the continent before the Senate Armed Services Committee in March.
"Military capabilities and ammunition in Europe allow us to assist the Africa Command in attacking terrorists on that continent, as well as the General Staff in conducting Operation Epic Fury. The distances are shorter, it is cheaper and it is much easier to project power," Grinkevich told lawmakers, referring to the war with Iran.
Nuclear weapons
According to a March estimate by the Federation of American Scientists, the US has approximately 100 nuclear bombs deployed at European bases. The report said the bombs are located at bases in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, and possibly at one base in the United Kingdom.
Even before Trump's remarks on Saturday, Republican leaders of the armed services committees in both houses of Congress had expressed concern about the Pentagon's plan. They warned that a premature withdrawal would send "the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin" as the Russian president continues his war in Ukraine.
Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers believe that the units should be relocated to bases in Eastern Europe, rather than withdrawn from the continent. They also noted that the allies have invested “significant resources to house American troops” and that the Pentagon has canceled a planned deployment of a long-range artillery unit to Germany.
New US strategy
As part of the National Defense Strategy, released in January, the Trump administration said that Europe must do more to defend itself. “While we are and will remain engaged in Europe, we must – and will – prioritize defending the American homeland and deterring China,” the document states.
The strategy notes that, although Europe's economic power is declining in relative global terms, it remains significant and that the German economy alone "overshadows Russia's."
"Fortunately, our NATO allies are significantly more powerful than Russia - the difference is enormous," the document states, recalling the recent commitment of NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, which Trump himself insisted on.
Germany is strengthening its military
Germany has been modernizing its long-neglected military, the Bundeswehr, since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. That year, a special fund of 100 billion euros was established to strengthen the armed forces, most of which was intended for the purchase of new equipment.
Late last year, Chancellor Merz's government announced plans to increase the number of soldiers from around 180,000 to 260,000. By comparison, in 2001, when Germany still had compulsory military service, the army numbered 300,000. Berlin has also announced that it will need around 200,000 reservists, more than double the current number.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius acknowledged after the Pentagon's plan was announced that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security. He said that the Bundeswehr is growing, military equipment is being procured faster, and infrastructure is being developed.
