US Announces Plan to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Tensions with Iran

US to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Tensions with European Allies

The US military has announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. According to reports, this decision was made by the Pentagon on Friday, following comments made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Merz had stated that Iran was “humiliating” the US during negotiations over the end of the war. In response, an anonymous official cited by Reuters reported that President Donald Trump is reacting to these remarks. The withdrawal is expected to take place as part of a broader effort to reassess troop deployments in European countries deemed insufficiently supportive.

The decision was also confirmed by CBS News, citing senior defense officials. Earlier this week, Politico reported that Trump’s threats to withdraw troops from European countries had caught the military by surprise, with several anonymous sources and a congressional aide providing insight into the situation.

Trump has previously criticized European allies for not doing more to assist in the US-Israeli war on Iran. In recent days, he has made public comments targeting Merz, urging him to focus on ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine rather than engaging with efforts to address the Iranian nuclear threat.

European countries have been hesitant to commit their own forces to the conflict, with leaders such as Merz initially reluctant to offer criticism of US actions. However, mounting concerns over the global economic impact of the war have led some to speak out against it.

Source: Al Jazeera