The United States has ordered the withdrawal of roughly 5,000 troops from Germany. Officials say the move is part of a broader review of U.S. force posture in Europe and is expected to be completed within a year.
Yonhap and other outlets reported May 2 that the Donald Trump administration announced on May 1 (local time) that it would pull about 5,000 U.S. troops out of Germany.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told Yonhap that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of roughly 5,000 troops from Germany. Parnell said the decision follows a review of U.S. force posture across Europe and reflects theater requirements and local conditions.
Officials expect the drawdown to finish within six to 12 months. About 36,436 U.S. service members are currently stationed in Germany; if the reduction proceeds as planned, that number would fall to roughly 31,000 — a cut of about 14%.
Germany hosts the second-largest overseas U.S. troop presence after Japan. Yonhap noted that Germany is a key hub, home to U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) headquarters, and has been central to European security since World War II.
Meanwhile, roughly 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea — the third-largest overseas contingent after Japan and Germany. They are based primarily at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, with units in Daegu, Gunsan and Osan. U.S. forces in Korea remain a core component of deterrence against North Korea and of the Indo‑Pacific strategy that counters China and Russia.
The Pentagon told Yonhap it would not comment on any potential force-posture adjustments that might affect U.S. forces in South Korea. It added that U.S. forces on the peninsula continue to focus on deterrence and readiness, and that Washington’s commitment to defending South Korea remains unchanged.
