Portugal is one of the countries that hosts American troops: they are at the Lajes Base, in the Azores
North Americans from Germany will bring the total back to a level close to that before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to data from the Department of Defense, there were 36,436 US military personnel in Germany in December last year, second only to Japan.
The Pentagon has not indicated whether troops will return to the US or be redeployed elsewhere. A long-range artillery battalion, due to be deployed later this year, will be cancelled, depriving Germany of coverage for a significant missile capability.
Former President Joe Biden approved sending an additional 7,000 US troops to Germany in February 2022, days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The American military presence in Germany reached its peak during the Cold War, when there were approximately 250,000 soldiers stationed in West Germany.
Other European countries where significant numbers of active-duty US military personnel are based include Italy, with more than 12,000, and the United Kingdom, with just over 10,000.
There are nearly 4,000 US troops in Spain, but US President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw them due to the Spanish government’s refusal to allow the bases to be used in the country in the war against Iran.
In addition to playing an important role in the Cold War, American installations in Europe also played a role in several crises in the Middle East.
European countries host American forces at several important air and naval bases, including the American air base at Ramstein in Germany, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom, Aviano in Italy, and Lajes Air Base in the Azores, Portugal.
The headquarters of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command are located in Stuttgart, Germany, and there are two installations supporting the U.S. Navy in Naples and Sigonella, Italy.
