Trump Pulls 5,000 Troops from Germany, Vows to Cut "Way Down" More as NATO Allies Panic

The United States has announced the withdrawal of 5,000 American soldiers from Germany, with President Donald Trump threatening to pull out "a lot further" than that, sparking alarm among European allies and senior Republicans [139249][139525]. The move, which the Pentagon described as planned, comes after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the US was being "humiliated" by Iran [139525]. Trump has warned that troop reductions could also hit Spain and Italy next [139249].

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz downplayed suggestions that the rift with Trump over US war planning in Iran triggered the troop cut, insisting there is "no link" between their personal disagreements and the military drawdown [139795]. Merz said he must accept the differences to continue working with Washington inside NATO, but the announcement has deepened fears across Europe that Washington is no longer a reliable security partner [139249][139795].

The withdrawal is part of a broader reassessment of US military commitments abroad. Trump has threatened to quit NATO entirely if allies refuse to increase defense spending, exposing what experts call a "commitment gap" between what NATO members promise and what they can actually deliver [139467][139481]. The United States currently carries the bulk of the alliance’s deterrence capability, while many European nations fall short of agreed spending targets [139481].

Republicans in Congress have sharply criticized the plan, and NATO officials confirmed they are seeking details from Washington [139339][139525]. A NATO spokesperson said the pullout highlights the need for European countries to boost their own defense budgets, but expressed confidence in the alliance's ability to maintain deterrence [139339].

Analysts say Trump’s unpredictable politics are unsettling traditional allies, forcing nations to recalibrate their strategies. Global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos openly questioned whether the American-led world order is fraying, as many look to engage more cautiously with other powers [57270][57549]. The troop withdrawal from Germany is the latest sign that the old trans-Atlantic alliance is under severe strain [57847].