President Trump said his administration is studying a possible reduction of troops deployed in Germany, citing an ongoing dispute with NATO allies.
11:01 PM
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is studying a possible reduction of U.S. troops deployed in Germany, according to a post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump said a determination on troop levels would be made "over the next short period of time." The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. president and NATO allies, particularly Germany.
The threat follows comments from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday, in which Merz suggested the Trump administration was being outplayed in its negotiations with Iran. Merz had previously stated that America was being "humiliated" by Iran in ongoing discussions aimed at securing an end to the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. currently maintains a significant military presence in Germany as part of its broader NATO commitments in Europe. Germany hosts thousands of American troops at various bases across the country.
Trump's statement represents an escalation in his public criticism of allied nations and their defense spending commitments. The timing of the announcement, coming days after Merz's remarks about Iran negotiations, suggests a direct connection between the diplomatic dispute and the troop reduction threat.
No specific number of troops targeted for withdrawal was provided in Trump's announcement. The administration indicated that further details would emerge following the review period.
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