US military presence in Germany under review as Trump contemplates strategic shift

Donald Trump is contemplating a strategic redeployment of US forces, with plans to withdraw around 35,000 troops from Germany and reposition them in Eastern Europe.

Sources close to the administration who revealed this information to The Telegraph suggest this potential shift could mark a significant change in the US military presence in Europe, per Caliber.Az.

According to sources, Trump is increasingly displeased with European nations, claiming that they seem to be "pushing for war." The US president has repeatedly urged Europe to boost its defence spending, citing that the continent is not fulfilling its obligations under NATO agreements.

The US currently has about 160,000 military personnel stationed outside the country, with a significant number of those based in Germany. “Trump is angry that they [Europe] appear to be pushing for war,” a White House insider said.

Brian Hughes, a US national security spokesman, confirmed that while no decision has been made, the military regularly evaluates the positioning of troops globally to address emerging threats. "While no specific announcement is imminent, the US military is always considering the redeployment of troops around the world to best address current threats to our interests,” Hughes stated.

In another significant development, President Trump is also reportedly considering repositioning US troops to countries like Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed a commitment to provide additional support to Ukraine during an EU summit. Orbán has maintained a close relationship with Russia and has frequently opposed EU sanctions on Moscow.

Trump’s strategy appears to focus on shifting US military assets to NATO members who have significantly increased defence spending, in line with his longstanding criticism of countries failing to meet the alliance's defence spending target of 2% of GDP. He has previously warned NATO countries that the US may not defend them if they do not meet these targets, stating, “When I came to NATO, I noticed that people weren’t paying their bills at all, and I said, ‘if you don’t pay your bills, we’re not going to participate. We’re not going to protect you.’”

During his first term, Trump ordered the withdrawal of nearly 12,000 US troops from Germany, including the US European Command headquarters at Ramstein Air Base. However, the withdrawal was blocked by Joe Biden after widespread congressional opposition.

Amid these tensions, Germany’s new government recently agreed to loosen constitutional restrictions on borrowing, allowing for one trillion euros ($1.08 trillion) in defence and infrastructure spending, signalling a shift in the country’s traditionally debt-averse policies.

Speculation about potential US troop withdrawals from Europe has intensified, especially ahead of the Munich Security Conference. Christoph Heusgen, the conference head, warned that the US may announce a major troop pullback.

JD Vance, vice-president, raised concerns about the American taxpayer’s willingness to continue subsidizing Germany’s defence, suggesting that the US might reassess its military presence in the country, particularly if free speech is restricted, referencing incidents of people being arrested for posting controversial opinions.

Trump’s administration also indicated plans to reduce the US military contingent in Europe by 20% and may request “financial contributions” for the remaining troops stationed on the continent.

In response to growing fears of American withdrawal, European nations launched emergency talks, exploring ways to enhance their own security and military capabilities. Efforts included discussions about deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine post-war, with countries such as Britain and France leading the charge for a “coalition of the willing.”

Despite Hungary’s veto of further support for Ukraine, European leaders reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s defence, with a joint statement declaring, “The European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to providing enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people.”

By Tamilla Hasanova