Pentagon Withdraws 5,000 Troops From Germany as Trump Pushes Europe to Spend 5% of GDP
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 2
Pentagon Withdraws 5,000 Troops From Germany as Trump Pushes Europe to Spend 5% of GDP
3 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 2
Summary
5,000 US personnel are being withdrawn from Germany after the Pentagon announced the move in early May, with Donald Trump later signaling the reduction would go well beyond that level.
Trump has tied the shift to a broader review of America’s role in Europe, arguing allies must shoulder more of the cost and responsibility for their own defense.
Germany’s Boris Pistorius called the cut expected and said it underscored Europe’s need to do more, while still stressing that the US military presence serves mutual interests.
France’s Emmanuel Macron struck a sharper tone, warning Europe cannot remain hostage to decisions made in Washington and must become a credible deterrence actor itself.
The withdrawal points to a wider reset in transatlantic security: the US remains in Europe, but increasingly on more conditional terms as NATO pushes members toward defense spending of 5% of GDP.
As US guarantees fade, is Europe building true military autonomy or just a bigger bill for American weapons?
Will Europe's new 5% defense spending target finally forge a unified military or just fund national rivalries?
Can Ukraine's innovative, battle-tested defense model rescue Europe's fragmented and outdated arms industry?
Europe’s Defense Transformation: Meeting NATO’s 5% GDP Challenge Amid U.S. Troop Reductions
Overview
In May 2026, the Pentagon announced the withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, including the cancellation of key deployments such as a planned missile unit, following President Trump's criticism of European allies for not providing enough support. This decision, targeting a U.S. brigade and other personnel, disrupted earlier NATO plans for enhanced deterrence and drew strong reactions from both U.S. lawmakers and European partners. The move highlights growing U.S. frustration and signals a shift in transatlantic security, pushing European nations to increase their defense spending and take greater responsibility for their own security within NATO.