The decision to cut US troops comes amid rising tensions after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being "humiliated" by Iran's leadership.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of around 5,000 American troops stationed in Germany, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The drawdown is to be completed over the next six to 12 months, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

"The 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," he added.

What to Know about the Feud between Trump and Merz

The announcement came a day after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut US troop numbers in Germany, and criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had said the US was being "humiliated" by Iran.

Trump lashed out at Merz over his criticism of the Iran war, saying that the German leader "doesn't know what he's talking about!" and calling him "totally ineffective."

On Friday, Trump also announced an increase in tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union, a move that will hit Germany hardest.

A senior ​Pentagon official told Reuters that recent German rhetoric had been "inappropriate and unhelpful."

"The president ​is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks," the news agency quoted the unnamed official as saying.

Senior German military officials told Reuters they were surprised by the announcement that followed what they described as constructive meetings at the Pentagon earlier in the day.

The point to the fact that Germany allwoed US overflight rights for the operation in Iran and permission to use US bases in German. Unlike some other European nations.

Some of the US troops wounded in the war were also treated at the Landstuhl military hospital near Ramstein Air Base.

On Thursday Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany was "prepared" for a reduction in US troops and was "discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies."

He said he was "relaxed" about the idea of fewer US troops but added major US bases, such as Ramstein, served "an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike."

How Many Troops Does the US Have in Germany?

The US currently has more forces in Germany than anywhere else in Europe, dating from the end of World War II and the start of the Cold War.

As of December 2025, more than 36,000 active service members were stationed in Germany, according to the US Defense Manpower Data Center.

This includes personnel at Ramstein in southwestern Germany, regarded as the US' largest overseas air force base.

The US has several other major military facilities in Germany, including the headquarters for US European Command and US Africa Command.

After Germany, which is home to five of the seven US garrisons in Europe, the United Kingdom and Italy have the biggest presence of US personnel on the continent.