Measure comes in response to the German government’s criticism of the United States over the war against Iran;
The United States confirmed this Friday (May 1, 2026) that it will withdraw 5,000 US soldiers from the base in Germany. The measure, in accordance with theis due to the increase in diplomatic tension between the (Republican) president and the German chancellor, (CDU, center right)about the conduct of the war against Iran.
The quota reduction must be completed within a period of 6 to 12 months. Germany currently hosts 35,000 US troops, the largest US force on European soil. With the measure, troop levels should return to the level recorded before 2022, when former President Joe Biden reinforced the US military presence in the region due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
DIPLOMATIC FRICTION
The decision was made because of Merz’s statements last Monday (May 27). The chancellor stated that the US is being “humiliated” in negotiations with Iran and criticized Washington’s lack of a clear exit strategy.
On Thursday (April 30), Trump said that Merz should dedicate himself to “fix your broken country” and the “end the war between Russia and Ukraine”in which, according to him, the prime minister’s performance “it has been completely ineffective”. The statement was made on his social network, Truth Social.
“The Chancellor of Germany should spend more time ending the war between Russia and Ukraine (where he has been completely ineffective!) and repairing his broken country, especially immigration and energy, and less time interfering with those who are eliminating the nuclear threat from Iran, thereby making the world, including Germany, a safer place!”he wrote.
PRESSURE ON NATO
The measure reflects Trump’s doctrine of prioritizing allies who demonstrate full support for US operations. Internal reports indicate that the government is studying other punishments for NATO members considered “disloyal”, including discussion of suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing support for Great Britain in the dispute over the Falkland Islands.
CRISIS IN THE STRAIT OF ORMUZ
According to Reutersthe erosion between the 2 countries is due to the global energy crisis. Trump criticizes the lack of European naval support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, mostly blocked since attacks against Iran began on February 28. For the North American president, this interruption in the flow of oil has caused instability in the international market.
