Hegseth orders 5,000 US troops to withdraw from Germany
“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,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell wrote in a brief statement.
By Ashley Roque on May 01, 2026 6:14 pm
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of roughly 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next year, a spokesman confirmed to Breaking Defense.
“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,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell wrote in a brief statement. “We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months.”
The Pentagon did not respond to questions about plans for the approximately 30,000 troops that will remain in Germany, or if the withdrawal would impact US troops in other NATO countries.
Reuters posted the decision on X this evening.
The announcement comes after months of upheaval between the US and NATO allies to include US President Donald Trump’s threat to invade Greenland, broader tariff disputes, and, more recently, US-Israel military operations against Iran.
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/hegseth-orders-5000-us-troops-to-withdraw-from-germany/
