Politico: Berlin awaits clarity as Washington reviews troop presence in Europe

For decades, American troops in Germany have been central to US global military strategy and Europe’s defence, but as Washington reviews worldwide deployments, Berlin faces growing uncertainty over the future of this presence.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius visited Washington on July 28 to ensure Germany remains informed about possible changes, Caliber.Az reports, citing Politico.

After his meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Pistorius acknowledged that Berlin expects a shift in American military posture.

“I began pointing out two years ago that it would become clear at some point that the Americans would eventually do less,” Pistorius told reporters.

“For now, we in Europe have been able to count on them doing more. But we have to recognise that they have their own interests — in the Indo-Pacific, in the security of maritime trade routes.”

What remains unclear is the exact scale and timing of this “less” involvement. German officials say they want to be involved in coordination efforts but have yet to receive firm commitments from Washington.

NATO allies share these concerns, with U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker seeking to reassure partners. Speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Whitaker said he maintains “daily conversations with our allies about that process” and promised “no surprises and no gaps in ... the strategic framework of Europe.”

Central to these discussions is the Global Force Posture Review, a Pentagon-led reassessment of U.S. troop deployments worldwide. The review aims to align American forces with shifting global priorities, particularly growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and pressures to reduce overseas military spending. The final report is expected by September.

For Europe, this could mean a reduction in American troop numbers. In February, Hegseth stated bluntly alongside his Polish counterpart: “Now is the time to invest [in your militaries], because you can’t make an assumption that America’s presence will last forever.”

Germany, hosting some 35,000 U.S. service members across roughly 35 locations — including Ramstein Air Base and Grafenwöhr training area — has a particularly strong interest in the outcome.

The U.S. military presence has long underpinned Germany’s national security, compensating for gaps in German defence capabilities such as ammunition, readiness, and strategic deterrence. It also includes U.S. nuclear warheads stationed in Büchel, a vital element of NATO’s shared deterrent posture.

Yet, as Aylin Matlé, senior fellow for security policy at the German Council on Foreign Relations, points out, U.S. bases in Germany serve American interests beyond Europe.

“Bases like Ramstein aren’t just used for European defence,” she said, “but for projecting power into the Middle East and, to some extent, Africa.” Europe acts as a “turnstile” for American military equipment heading to other regions.

Matlé suggests the review could lead to the withdrawal of roughly 20,000 U.S. troops deployed to Europe in 2022 under President Joe Biden in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“That would still leave a substantial American footprint,” she added, noting that current U.S. troop numbers in Europe range between 90,000 and 100,000.

However, downsizing these recent reinforcements might serve a symbolic purpose under the Trump administration. “It would send a message,” Matlé said, “and that kind of symbolic contrast matters to Trump.”

A NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told POLITICO a drawdown of up to 30 per cent in Europe is possible, which would represent a significant realignment.

“Regardless of how many troops are withdrawn, if at all,” Matlé said, “it’s crucial that it happens in an orderly, coordinated way, and not as a surprise to European allies.”

With the Pentagon’s report still pending, Berlin remains uncertain about what it will contain or how soon any changes will be implemented.

By Aghakazim Guliyev