Germany says U.S. troop withdrawal ‘anticipated’, Spain and Italy could be next

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives a statement during his visit to the army at the Bundeswehr base in Munster, Germany, Thursday, April, 30, 2026.

Germany’s defense minister is playing down the impact of the Pentagon’s decision to pull 5,000 troops from the country, but the move has rattled NATO allies and added to growing fears that Europe can no longer rely on Washington.

(Image credit: Markus Schreiber)