Trump administration to cut 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany

By Updated on: May 1, 2026 / 6:13 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The Pentagon is planning to withdraw about 5,000 American forces from Germany, senior defense officials said Friday.The officials characterized the move as a signal of President Trump's discontent with the level of assistance that European allies have offered in the U.S.-Iran war. Mr. Trump has publicly criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the leaders of other NATO member states for not getting directly involved in the U.S.'s military campaign against Iran.The U.S. military has a massive presence in Germany dating back to the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War. More than 36,000 active duty troops were assigned to bases throughout Germany as of last December, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians, according to Defense Department figures. Japan is the only foreign country with a larger presence of U.S. troops. Germany is also home to the headquarters of U.S. European Command and Africa Command, and its Ramstein Air Base is a key hub for U.S. operations.Some of the U.S. forces who are being moved out of Europe may return to the U.S. and then be deployed abroad, defense