Germany's defense minister has described the planned US withdrawal of 5,000 troops from the country as "foreseeable," while NATO works to clarify Washington's intentions.
In an interview with DPA news agency, Boris Pistorius emphasized that "the presence of American soldiers in Europe, and particularly in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the US."
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed the alliance is "working with the US to understand the details of their decision."
The move follows President Donald Trump's criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had stated that the US was "humiliated" by Iranian negotiators. The US currently maintains over 36,000 active-duty troops in Germany — its largest European deployment, compared to about 12,000 in Italy and 10,000 in the UK.
Speaking on Saturday, Trump indicated the cuts could go further: "We're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000," though he offered no specifics. He has also suggested reducing troops in Italy and Spain.
Last year, Washington reduced its presence in Romania as part of a strategic shift toward the Indo-Pacific. Now, growing unease within NATO's 32 members has sparked warnings.
"The greatest threat to the transatlantic community are not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance," cautioned Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. "We must all do what it takes to reverse this disastrous trend."
Two senior Republican lawmakers, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers — chairs of the Senate and House armed services committees — expressed deep concern, arguing that "rather than withdrawing forces from the continent altogether, it is in the US interest to maintain a strong deterrent in Europe."
Pistorius stressed that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security, adding that Berlin would work more closely with allies. "Germany is on the right track," he said, noting significant increases in military spending.
Under Merz, Germany is projected to spend €105.8 billion (£91 billion) on defense by 2027, reaching 3.1% of GDP — a radical shift from earlier shortfalls. In a social media post, NATO's Hart noted the withdrawal "underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security."
The rift traces back to Merz's comments on Monday, when he told students that "the Americans clearly have no strategy" and that the US was being "humiliated" by Iran. Trump retaliated on Truth Social, accusing Merz of thinking it "OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon" and claiming "he doesn't know what he's talking about."
Shortly after, the Pentagon announced the troop reduction. Spokesman Sean Parnell said it was ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and is expected to take six to twelve months.
Trump, a longtime NATO critic, has recently lashed out at allies for not participating in operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has restricted traffic in response to US and Israeli strikes since February 28. The US has also enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports in the Gulf.