US Troop Reduction in Germany. Spain, Italy Next?
Trump Administration to Withdraw Thousands of Troops From NATO Ally Germany, Pentagon Says
Kurt Zindulka
The United States has announced that it intends to withdraw thousands of troops from bases in Germany over the next year as the Trump administration looks to reshape its forward deployment posture following the conflict in Iran.
In what may serve as the first domino to fall in the Trump administration’s response to public disloyalty from NATO allies in Europe, the Pentagon said on Friday that U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered 5,000 soldiers to be removed from Germany.
In a statement provided to the AFP on Friday evening, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said: “We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months.”
“This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground.”
It came after President Trump said earlier this week that his government was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany.”
The U.S. leader has also signalled potential troop reductions elsewhere in Europe, including in Spain and Italy, both of which to varying degrees openly opposed the war in Iran, with Spain refusing access to its military bases and airspace and Italy reportedly restricting its airspace for strikes on Iran.
Trump’s action with Israel halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions has revealed a deep division with our purported NATO allies, and stripped bare the facade of their real military capabilities. This conflict will end soon enough and there will be an accounting from Trump.
Also, if I were Argentina I’d be looking hard at another bite at the Falkland Island apple. Britain has no Navy to speak of and Javier Milei is a much better friend to the US than Keir Starmer. Just leave a message, Sir Keir. Maybe we’ll call.
Category: NATO
I’ll admit to being somewhat ignorant of exactly why we continue to have a large OCONUS military presence in the post-Cold War era. I know the Navy needs installations to support the fleet, and the Air Force is better able to project its power worldwide by maintaining overseas bases, but for the Army, it seems that overseas tours benefit the service members and host nations a lot more than they do our national interests. Maybe I’m biased–besides the two warzones during GWOT, I spent my entire career in the southern US–but Soldiers I’ve known who’ve been stationed in places like Germany and Italy seem to enjoy that experience far more than ones who’ve been stationed in CONUS assignments like Fort Polk or Fort Drum. The Army has been reducing its presence in Europe over the past 20+ years quite a bit, and I can only imagine how German and other towns are affected, after having their economies propped up by US dollars for decades. To hell with them, though; let them deal with the fallout.
My year long assignment to a countryside Signal unit in Germany was a vacation back in the late 60’s but where do
you come up with 5000 troops?
I had no idea we had that many there to begin with.
Yeah, I believe a reduction is in order.
We had a retired NYC postal worker who went to work for us until he I think hit 65. he was in the Army stationed in Germany and he was telling me that he was trying to thumb a ride inside the base and a jeep stops to pick him up and who do you think was behind the wheel, it was
Elvis the pelvis as the nickname came about after he was on the Ed Sullivan show that the camera just showed him from the waist up and the teeny boppers were screaming.
Believe I read elsewhere that we still have about 35,000 there. Some of them due to Biden responding to Putin’s Ukraine incursion.
and today I saw a chart that said 51,000. 10% is a rounding error.
Mostly HQ and support units, but also the 173 AB Brigade in Vicenza, Italy.
https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/Units/
“but Soldiers I’ve known who’ve been stationed in places like Germany and Italy seem to enjoy that experience far more than ones who’ve been stationed in CONUS assignments like Fort Polk or Fort Drum.”
There it is. Especially now that the Cold War is over and European duty is a bit more relaxed. I have been stationed on three continents, and Europe was my favorite. I wonder if there has been any reduction in MWR facilities in Europe now that troop levels have drastically dropped since the fall of the wall. I see that the rec. center in Garmisch is still open. Never had the opportunity myself.
“Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) resorts provide an array of affordable, wholesome vacation opportunities exclusively to our brave Service Members, their Families and other authorized patrons of the Total Defense Force. ”
https://issuu.com/edelweissresort/docs/final_summer_a5_forprint
https://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/about-elr
Garmisch is AWESOME. I went there on mid tour leave 2006. Stayed at a cabin across the river from the main lodge. MWR tours to Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, saw a bunch of Ludwig’s castles. Roamed around town playing tourist. Less than a month later I’m back in Germany. Landstuhl for that trip. Still not too bad
“Soldiers I’ve known who’ve been stationed in places like Germany and Italy seem to enjoy that experience far more than ones who’ve been stationed in CONUS assignments like Fort Polk or Fort Drum. “
I still recall the winter training in the late 70s, early 80s…never saw lake effect snow until at Drum…the joke was if hell ever froze over they could just rename it Fort Drum…
Although PBR was only 6 bucks a case as I recall…not bad for barracks entertainment fuel…I think I have a copy of my Fort Drum NCO club card around with my old stuff….
Why would anyone want the Falkland Islands anyway? What benefit are they to any country? Resources? Strategic location?
Like Puerto Rico is to the US.
Better that they remain a millstone around former GB’s neck.
But……they have sheep
Say sheep should sleep in sheds 5 times fast for a great tongue twister…
Said all the muzzies
The Argentinians still have quite a hard-on for the Malvinas as they call the Falklands. I took this picture when I was in Ushuaia in February 2025. Similar sentiments were all over the place. Why they want them is the question of the day.
I know Argentina doesn’t have one of the most potent militaries anymore, but they just might have a shot this time around, with the sorry condition the Royal Navy is in.
If I had to guess a reason (granted, I was a USAF wife, not a USN wife, so this is not my wheelhouse), one would be that Argentina wants to keep China out of its own backyard. Have you seen the photos and videos of the Chinese “fishing boats” just outside of Argentina’s official reach? Clearly, the British navy is not keeping them out.
Looks like Christmas came early for China and Russia!
Russia? Hahaha, they are 4 plus years into a 3-WEEK operation to conquer a neighboring nation 1/4 of their size. You’re drunk on the Leftist Kool-Aid.
Only through the heavy backing of NATO has Ukraine survived this long. No more NATO means no more Ukraine. This is a first step towards no more NATO.
Nonsense. Russia lost on day 3 when they could not steamroller their smaller neighbor. They still cannot. They wont, as long as Ukraine won’t quit.
You probably thought 1991 was a trick to lull us.
Russia is well past “stupid foolish” and working on “societal collapse”. They simply are world class fakers, and have been since th 1950s.
Post Putin? End comes fast.
If Trump gets his wish and pulls out of NATO the end will come quick alright.
I don’t know what you mean by a trick in 1991, so please explain.
Russia didn’t have enough working armor and apparently for the usual May Day parade.
Officially, they didn’t want the Ukies to bomb it, which is even more humiliating.
At the rate Russia is winning there will not be a Russia in 20 years.
Exactly, that is all about to change.
Putin must be rubbing his hands with glee at one of his hundred palaces. Li Qiang is now turning a serious eye to Taiwan.
From your daddy…
How do US troops in Europe prevent China from taking Taiwan?
Only if they’re getting coal.
Nope, it will be wheat, seed oil, iron and a trillion in petro reserves.
Okay, I walked into that one.
NATO has outgrown its usefulness. The idea after WW2 (no more Roman numerals b/c Dems are too dumb) was to fight WW3 in Europe and not in/on/or near the US. I’m sure we all read Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy and figured that would be about the way things would play out. Instead of protecting Europe from a Soviet invasion, NATO is the soft Euros way to skip out on securing their own backyards. I would NOT go full withdrawal, but I’d shop around the idea of doing business with friendly allies instead of ones who think they are better than us. France, Germany , and the UK are ONLY interested in a one-way-alliance.
I was always curious who won WW9
I’ll let you know if I ever finish my home made time machine as of now, I can only go 2 hours into the future in 120 minutes.
Me
Pretty sure we already have bases in Hungary and maybe Poland. The former Iron Curtain countries would welcome us with open arms.
Yes, Germany used to be the eastern front of NATO, not anymore. If we are to have a troop presence in Europe, then let it be in countries like Poland, Hungary and Latvia(?) the new eastern front of NATO.
It seems to me that the way things are going the former Warsaw Pact countries may become freer, stronger, and more pro-US than our traditional NATO “allies”.
I can only imagine that after being down the communist shit chute a U.S. led NATO is pretty sweet.
Poland has been a great ally and welcoming to our troops. We built Aegis Ashore in Redzikowo but gave it to NATO two years ago. Navy Sailors are still there operating and maintaining it. They want all the US gear they can get.
IIRC, Romania has long been wanting US Military stationed on their soil as well.
That 5,000 might not be going back to the States, you know how such often things go.
Yes, the Baltic states that were once Soviet satellites have been very receptive in the US sphere of influence. My son’s LPD made some port visits to reassure of allies in Summer of 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Here’s a weird fact: the former PM of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš (2019-2023), was a former classmate of mine from highs school. My boy’s ship made a port visit to Riga during the deployment, and the Latvian PM visited another ship in his ABG. By the time I had heard the news, the PM ‘s visit was over.
I expect the usual suspects France and Germany to give us the finger but ever since that eunuch known as Starmer became PM, he’s turned the UK in the same ilk as the frogs and krauts.
Macron and Merz should go see all the graves at the Normandy American Cemetery and then pull their heads out of their asses.
Well, if NATO countries don’t like Trump reducing our troop strengthi. Europe, they can bring home all their troops here in the US…
I have no problem bringing home that many troops.
My worry is the shit state of barracks and chow halls. Is there enough room for the junior people? Maybe the powers can use the saved money for quality of life issues across the board.
hahahahahahahahhaahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
The powers don’t give a rats ass about the troops.
We’ll need barracks, chow halls, motor pools, admin offices, an employee increase at finance, MILPO, medical and dental, more family housing, expand DoD schools, et cetera et cetera et cetera
What makes you think they’re coming home?
I was thinking if they came stateside. If they go somewhere they are welcome and secure that’s great as well.
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