Germany says U.S. troop withdrawal 'anticipated', Spain and Italy could be next

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives a statement during his visit to the army at the Bundeswehr base in Munster, Germany, Thursday, April, 30, 2026. Markus Schreiber/AP

Markus Schreiber/AP

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius sought to project calm Saturday after the Pentagon announced it would withdraw roughly 5,000 troops from his country, calling the decision "anticipated" and insisting his country is ready to shoulder more of the burden of its defense.

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"The presence of American troops in Europe, and particularly in Germany, lies in our interest and in the interest of the US," the defense minister told German news agency dpa. Pistorius added that if Germany was to remain a transatlantic partner, it must work to strengthen the European pillar within NATO. The Trump administration's announcement Friday that it would withdraw troops from Germany sparked concerns among European allies, raising fresh questions about the durability of the NATO alliance and America's long-term commitment to the continent.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to NPR on Saturday the order had come from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and that it reflected "a thorough review of the Department's force posture in Europe" and conditions on the ground.

"We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months," Parnell said.

The withdrawal would leave more than 30,000 U.S. troops in Germany — reversing a buildup that began under President Biden following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The announcement comes days after Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly said the U.S. was being "humiliated" by Iranian leadership and criticized the U.S. strategy in the war, .