The message from Washington was not subtle. Thousands of US troops are leaving Germany. More could follow. The reason? Unclear. The timing? A surprise. The consequence? Europe is finally waking up.
European leaders on Monday said that President Donald Trump’s snap decision to pull thousands of US troops out of Germany came as a surprise but is a fresh sign that Europe must take care of its own security. The Pentagon announced last week that it would pull some 5,000 troops out of Germany. But Trump told reporters on Saturday that “we’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.”
He offered no reason for the move, which blindsided NATO. But his decision came amid an escalating dispute with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the US-Israeli war on Iran, and Trump’s anger that European allies have been reluctant to get involved in the conflict in the Middle East. The message is clear: if Europe does not fight alongside America, America will not protect Europe.
The European Response
Asked about the decision to pull out 5,000 troops from Germany, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, “I wouldn’t exaggerate that because I think we are expecting that Europe is taking more charge of its own security. I do not see those figures as dramatic, but I think they should be handled in a harmonious way inside the framework of NATO.”
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, was more direct. “There has been talk about the withdrawal of US troops from Europe for a long time. But of course, the timing of this announcement comes as a surprise. I think it shows that we have to really strengthen the European pillar in NATO.”
Asked whether she believes Trump is trying to punish Merz — who recently said the US has been humiliated by Iran in talks to end the war — Kallas said: “I don’t see into the head of President Trump, so he has to explain it himself.”
That is diplomatic language for: we do not know why he did this, and that is part of the problem.
The Alliance Under Strain
European allies and Canada have known since shortly after Trump came to office again last year that he would pull troops out of Europe. Some left Romania in October. But US officials had pledged to coordinate any moves with their NATO allies to avoid creating a security vacuum. The latest decision appears to have bypassed that coordination.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte played down the move, saying that “there has been at this point disappointment on the US side” about European support for the war on Iran. Notably, France, Spain, and the UK have declined to give US forces free rein to use bases on their territory to attack Iran. Spain has denied them the use of its airspace and bases for the war.
But Rutte, who has championed Trump’s leadership at NATO despite the US president’s criticism of the majority of the allies, said: “I would say the Europeans have heard a message. They are now making sure that all the bilateral basing agreements are being implemented.”
Rutte added that European nations “have decided to pre-position assets, key assets, close to the theater for the next phase.” He provided no details. But the Europeans have insisted they would not help police the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy trade route, until the war is over.
French President Emmanuel Macron said, “If the United States is ready to reopen Hormuz, that’s great. That’s what we’ve been asking for since the beginning.” But he underlined that the Europeans are not ready to get involved in any operation “that does not seem clear to us.”
The Trade Front
The troop drawdown is not the only point of friction. Trump has accused the EU of not complying with its US trade deal and announced plans to increase tariffs next week on cars and trucks produced in the bloc to 25 percent — a move that would be particularly damaging to Germany, a major automobile manufacturer.
Without mentioning Trump or the United States, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen listed recent trade deals that the bloc has sealed with Australia and India, and is now working on with Mexico. “With like-minded friends, you have stable, reliable supply chains, and Europe has the biggest network of free trade agreements,” von der Leyen, who is from Germany, told reporters.
The message is implicit but unmistakable: Europe is looking for new partners. The United States is no longer the only option.
The Bottom Line
President Trump announced he is pulling thousands of US troops out of Germany — and cutting “a lot further” than the 5,000 the Pentagon had disclosed. He offered no reason for the move, which blindsided NATO allies. European leaders said the decision was a surprise but a fresh sign that Europe must take care of its own security. The EU’s foreign policy chief said Europe must “strengthen the European pillar in NATO.”
Trump’s move comes amid escalating disputes with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over European reluctance to join the US-Israeli war on Iran. France, Spain, and the UK have denied the US full use of their bases and airspace. Trump has also threatened 25 percent tariffs on European cars, a direct blow to Germany.
NATO’s secretary-general said Europeans have “heard a message.” The message is clear: America is pulling back. Europe must decide whether to step up or step aside.
