Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has emphasized the mutual interest in continued US military stationing in light of President Donald Trump's announced troop withdrawal. "The presence of American soldiers in Europe and especially in Germany is in our interest and in the interest of the USA," Pistorius stated according to the Defense Ministry in Berlin on Saturday morning.
"That the USA would withdraw troops from Europe and also from Germany was foreseeable," Pistorius continued. The discussion now centers on 5,000 US soldiers out of a total of nearly 40,000 currently stationed in Germany. However, intensive military cooperation with the USA continues, "in Ramstein, in Grafenwöhr, in Frankfurt and elsewhere, for peace and security in Europe, for Ukraine and for mutual deterrence."
The Federal Defense Minister also reiterated: "We must become more European within NATO in order to remain transatlantic." The European NATO states must "take more responsibility for our security." Germany is also on a good path here. Before Pistorius, Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) had also responded calmly to Trump's announcements.
On Wednesday, Trump declared on his Truth Social platform: "The USA is currently reviewing and evaluating a possible reduction in troop presence in Germany." A decision on this should be made "shortly." Trump linked this with criticism of the federal government regarding its stance on the Iran war. The US Defense Department then announced on Friday (local time) that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 soldiers within the next six to twelve months.
CDU defense politician Thomas Röwekamp described the US withdrawal announcement as a "wake-up call," though it is "no reason to panic." However, he criticized US President Donald Trump's uncoordinated approach in the "Rheinische Post" as "unacceptable": "Security partnership is not a deal and NATO is not a bazaar." Germany must now "resolutely strengthen our own capabilities."
CDU foreign policy expert Peter Beyer contradicted portrayals that the US move is "a kind of punitive action" against Germany or against Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Rather, the US plans "have to do with changed geopolitical realities and interests," he also told the "Rheinische Post."
Sharp criticism of the US announcements came from the SPD. "The presence of US troops in Germany serves our security policy interest, but also that of the USA – they benefit from it considerably," SPD defense politician Siemtje Möller told "Welt am Sonntag." Trump's threats are "erratic and the announcement of the partial withdrawal is without strategy." Möller regretted that German and European security are "increasingly exposed to the arbitrariness of the US President."
"The announced withdrawal shows how dangerous it is to rely on Trump in defense matters," warned Green Party leader Franziska Brantner to the news portal t-online. She now called for "more European cooperation and the determined establishment of a common European defense." Brantner also accused Merz of weak leadership: "Instead of clear answers, Chancellor Merz only delivers back and forth and hesitation."
Left Party defense expert Ulrich Thoden also spoke of "irrational behavior by Trump." While he causes no damage with the announced troop withdrawal, but "quite the contrary," Thoden explained in Berlin. However, he accused the federal government of having failed to make provisions for the affected regions in Germany despite repeated US withdrawal threats. AfD foreign policy expert Markus Frohnmaier accused Merz in t-online.de of lacking "diplomatic skill."
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