The United States will withdraw 5,000 troops from its NATO ally Germany — one seventh of those present in the country — Pentagon announced on Friday, following a public confrontation over the war in Iran between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
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The measure is the most concrete announcement so far from the U.S. government to reduce its military presence in Europe, after months of complaints from Washington that the region was not doing enough to support the U.S. in Iran nor to take care of its own security.
How many U.S. troops are in Europe?
December 2025: 68,000 active duty military
The United States had approximately 68,000 active duty military permanently stationed at its bases in Europe in December 2025, according to data from the U.S. Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). This figure does not include rotational forces sent on deployment missions or exercises.
The U.S. military is spread across 31 permanent bases and another 19 military sites to which the Department of Defense has access, according to a Congressional report.
What is the composition of U.S. troops in Europe?
From enlisted soldiers to marines and Special Operations forces
The U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) oversees U.S. military operations in Europe, working with NATO allies through six commands representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Special Operations Forces, and the newly created Space Force.
These components are headquartered in Germany and Italy and focus on crisis response and security cooperation in Europe and Africa.
What is the presence in Spain?
Almost 4,000 deployed personnel
The country hosts Navy and Air Force bases near the Strait of Gibraltar. According to the DMDC, in December 2025 there were 3,814 personnel permanently assigned in Spain. The main U.S. bases in Spain are Rota (Cádiz) and Morón de la Frontera (Seville). Additionally, the U.S. can request Spain’s cooperation at the Zaragoza and Torrejón de Ardoz (air bases) and Cartagena (naval base) facilities. Spain’s refusal to allow their use by the U.S. in the so-called Operation Epic Fury is at the root of the conflict between the U.S. and NATO.
After the start of attacks against Iran on February 28, 2026, the Spanish government opposed the attack, which it deemed contrary to international law. Consequently, and reviving the “no to war” stance, Sánchez’s administration denied the U.S. use of Spanish soil for the attacks.
The refusal irritated Trump, already at odds with Spain over what he considered the country’s low defense spending in its contribution to NATO. The U.S. president called Spain a “terrible” ally and even threatened to cut trade relations between the two countries. On Friday, May 1, he reiterated that he would “probably” consider withdrawing the soldiers his country has deployed at the joint military bases in Spain and Italy. “Why shouldn’t I do it?” he asked. For now, the U.S. has announced a 14% reduction in its military presence in Germany.
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Where are these troops deployed?
Germany and Italy, the EU countries with the largest presence
U.S. troops are deployed in more than a dozen European countries. Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom concentrate the largest personnel presence. These are some of the main contingents:
Germany: The largest U.S. base in Europe is the air base near the German city of Ramstein, where troops have been stationed since 1952. According to DMDC data, in December 2025 there were 36,436 active duty military deployed in Germany, spread across five garrisons.
Italy: U.S. military personnel have been deployed in Italy since the end of World War II, with units from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. According to the DMDC, Italy hosted 12,662 active duty military at the end of 2025 in bases such as Vicenza, Aviano, Naples, and Sicily.
United Kingdom: U.S. forces in the United Kingdom numbered 10,156 personnel last December, distributed across three bases, mainly Air Force.
Poland: It has 369 active duty military permanently assigned, plus about 10,000 rotational personnel funded through the European Deterrence Initiative, according to DMDC and Congressional Research Service data. Personnel are distributed across four bases with temporary U.S. access.
Romania: Like Poland and other former communist bloc countries, Romania hosts rotational U.S. forces in addition to 153 permanent personnel. Bases to which the U.S. has access include Mihail Kogalniceanu, Camp Turzii, and Deveselu.
Hungary: The U.S. conducts rotational deployments and military exercises in Hungary. In December, there were 77 active duty military permanently assigned at two bases: Kecskemét and Pápa air base.
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