NATO seeks details after US orders troop withdrawal from Germany

Berlin: NATO said on Saturday it is in contact with Washington to clarify the details of the United States decision to pull troops out of Germany, after the Pentagon announced plans to withdraw around 5,000 personnel.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said in a post on X that the alliance was engaging with the United States over the move.

We are working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany.

Hart wrote.

She said the decision highlighted the need for European countries to increase defence spending and shoulder a larger part of the burden for collective security.

adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defence and take on a greater share of the responsibility

for shared security, Hart said. She added: "We remain confident in our ability to provide for our deterrence and defence as this shift towards a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO continues."

The Pentagon said on Friday that the US defence chief had directed the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany. The announcement followed remarks earlier in the week by President Donald Trump, who said Washington was reviewing a possible reduction in its military footprint in Germany.

The issue has unfolded amid tensions within NATO linked to Trump’s war against Iran. Trump’s comments came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised the United States on Monday, saying it lacked an exit strategy for the Iran war and that Americans were being

humiliated

by the Iranian regime in negotiations.

Germany says move was expected

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday that the planned reduction in US forces in Europe was

foreseeable.

adding that it had been expected the United States would scale back its military presence, including in Germany.

He said the development came at a time of growing strain between Washington and major European allies over the conflict with Iran. Merz has also said Iran is

humiliating

the United States in talks aimed at ending the conflict.

Pistorius said Europe needed to take greater responsibility for its own security. He said Germany was

on the right track

through efforts to expand its armed forces and speed up procurement. He also said Berlin would remain in close coordination with allies, especially Britain, France, Poland and Italy.

The developments point to continuing transatlantic friction as the United States reviews its military posture in Europe and European governments respond by stressing the need for stronger regional defence capabilities.