US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of around 5,000 American troops stationed in Germany, the Pentagon said on Friday. The drawdown is to be completed over the next six to 12 months, a Pentagon spokesperson said in a statement, adding that "the decision follows a thorough review of the department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground." As of December 2025, more than 36,000 active service members were