US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany amid Iran war dispute
Al Jazeera Staff
The Pentagon has decided to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany within 6–12 months, following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's criticism of the U.S. military campaign in Iran. The move reflects growing tensions between President Donald Trump and European allies.
The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany, according to Reuters and CBS News citing senior defense officials. The decision was made on May 2, days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Iran was humiliating the United States in negotiations to end the war.
An anonymous official said: 'The president is reacting appropriately to these counterproductive remarks.' The withdrawal is expected to take place over the next 6 to 12 months.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for failing to provide sufficient support for the U.S. and Israeli war in Iran. On April 30, he announced he was considering withdrawing troops from European countries that do not show full support.
In a social media post on May 1, Trump attacked the German chancellor, saying Merz should spend more time ending the Russia-Ukraine war and less 'interfering with those who are eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat.'
European countries initially hesitated to criticize U.S. strikes on Iran, which many international law experts consider illegal. However, criticism grew as the war caused shocks to the global economy due to regional energy supply disruptions.
Earlier this week, Chancellor Merz compared the war to past U.S. military interventions such as Iraq and Afghanistan. He said: 'This is a very complex situation... This war against Iran has a direct impact on our economic output.'
Politico earlier reported that Trump's withdrawal threats caught military officials by surprise, according to anonymous defense officials and congressional aides.
