It appears Donald Trump is following through on his threats to reduce US military presence in Europe.The Pentagon announced on Friday that 5,000 troops will be withdrawn from Germany over the next six to 12 months.The president’s move to reduce the number of personnel deployed in Germany came after the country’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said the US was being “humiliated” by Iran.A senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said recent German rhetoric had been “inappropriate and unhelpful”. Trump has also threatened Italy and Spain for not helping to reopen the strait of Hormuz.The pending withdrawal comes amid a widening rift between the US and Nato allies over the war in Iran. Germany is the US military’s biggest basing location in Europe, with about 35,000 active-duty military personnel, and serves as a key training hub.US withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany after Merz says US ‘humiliated’ by IranIt is unclear how much support Trump would have for a significant drawdown. Since the end of the cold war, US bases in Europe have become key forward-staging sites and logistical hubs for US military operations, launching and supporting wars including in Iraq, Afghanistan and, most recently, Iran.Read the full storyVideo shows moment
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