Italian
The threat from the US president comes after the German Friedrich Merz suggested that Trump’s team should be put in a difficult position in negotiations with Iran
USA. The United States could reduce the number of troops deployed in Germany, Donald Trump announced, just days after the German chancellor stated that America would be “humiliated” by Iran.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president stated that his administration is “studying and evaluating a possible reduction of troops in Germany, with a decision to be made in the near future.”
On Monday, Friedrich Merz suggested that Trump’s team was being outpaced in negotiations with Iran to achieve an end to the ongoing war and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilled at not negotiating, allowing Americans to travel to Islamabad only to leave without any results,” said the German chancellor.
Merz reiterated his criticisms on Wednesday, stating that Europe is “suffering” the consequences of the closure of the strait.
Trump canceled a second trip of U.S. negotiators to Islamabad last week. Since then, talks on the Iranian nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz have been stalled.
On Tuesday, Trump accused Merz of believing it is “acceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon” and added that the chancellor “doesn’t know what he’s talking about!”
Previously, on Wednesday, Merz had downplayed these statements, claiming that his relationship with Trump remains “as good as ever.” However, the President’s threat to withdraw U.S. troops risks raising concerns in Berlin and across Europe, coming at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and its traditional European allies, during which Trump has also intensified threats to withdraw from NATO.
On April 1st, Trump stated that he was “absolutely considering” leaving NATO due to the lack of participation from European allies in the US-Israel conflict against Iran and the lack of support to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz, vital for the global economy.
A similar move would be catastrophic for European security, but it is considered unlikely due to a U.S. law passed in 2024, which prevents the President from withdrawing from NATO without a two-thirds majority in the Senate or an act of Congress.
According to some experts, the White House might instead adopt measures that weaken the alliance without reaching a formal withdrawal. One possible scenario could be the withdrawal of US troops from Europe.
The United States has over 68,000 active-duty military personnel in Europe, according to data from the Defense Manpower Data Center. Germany hosts the largest contingent, with over 35,000 soldiers in 2024 according to the Congressional Research Service, while German media estimate the number to be around 50,000.
Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO during both of his terms, accusing members of “taking advantage” of the United States by not investing enough in defense.
The recent actions of the President – including the threat to invade Greenland and the accusation against allies of being “cowardly” for not contributing to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz – have led experts to describe this moment as “the worst crisis ever faced by NATO.”
Ivo Daalder, former U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO from 2009 to 2013, stated this month that it is “difficult to understand how any European country can now be able and willing to trust the United States for its defense.”
Just a few hours before Trump’s post about the troops in Germany, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, discussing Iran and the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday, Trump also stated that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting “some sort of ceasefire” in Ukraine.
