Republicans raise concerns over Trump plan to reduce U.S. troops in Germany

Saturday 02 May 2026 - 16:45

Top Republican lawmakers in the United States have expressed concern over a Pentagon plan to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany, warning that the move could weaken NATO’s deterrence posture in Europe.

The proposed decision involves the removal of around 5,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in Germany, a key NATO ally. The plan has triggered debate in Washington over its potential impact on transatlantic security and the long-term balance of military power in Europe.

In a joint statement, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, who lead the Armed Services Committees in the Senate and House respectively, said they were “very concerned” about the decision.

They stressed that any significant changes to U.S. military deployments in Europe should be closely coordinated with Congress and allied governments. According to their statement, maintaining strong consultation is essential to preserving the credibility of collective defense commitments.

The Pentagon has indicated that the withdrawal would take place over a period of six to twelve months. The move comes amid broader discussions about the distribution of U.S. forces abroad and pressure from some political figures to reassess overseas military commitments.

The debate follows earlier remarks by former President Donald Trump, who has previously questioned the scale of U.S. troop deployments in Europe. Tensions have also been linked to differing views on defense spending among NATO members.

Lawmakers warned that reducing forces prematurely could send the wrong signal to adversaries and potentially weaken deterrence against Vladimir Putin, especially at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

They also noted that even if NATO allies increase defense spending, building sufficient military capacity to replace U.S. capabilities would take years.

The situation highlights ongoing divisions in U.S. defense policy over how to balance domestic priorities with international security commitments, particularly within the NATO alliance.