On June 5, 2025, the inaugural visit of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Donald Trump took place. The meeting caused great tension because visits by international politicians to the Oval Office were rather similar at that time crossing the row.
The visit was a success – Merz did not fall for Trump's verbal traps and received important assurances. The president was asked whether he would leave American troops in Germany. — We have a lot of soldiers there, about 45,000. These are huge forces, and if you think about it, an entire city. “It's good for the economy, soldiers have good pay and money they spend in Germany,” Trump replied.
Relations with Germany are very important – if Berlin wants to keep troops, “we will do it, no problem.”
Since then, according to information from the newspaper “Die Welt”, they have actually been going on talks on the withdrawal of American troops.
However, according to several German government officials, there were plans to withdraw coordinated and implemented in consultation with the expansion of German and European capabilities.
At the same time, Berlin regularly informed the American side about its own defense plans. Last week, Geza Andreas von Geyr, secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, traveled to Washington to present the military strategy of federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at the Pentagon. A few days later, Inspector General Carsten Breuer and Nils Hilmer, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defense, arrived.
Trump's unpredictability
The American side lavished praise. — Germany is probably the ally with which we cooperate most closely. Germany has, in a sense, crossed the Rubicon — a senior representative of the US Department of Defense told Die Welt. At almost the same time, the German Navy sent its first minesweeper to the Mediterranean to help secure the Strait of Hormuz after the end of the war with Iran.
The article continues below the video
Therefore, Trump's announcement of the possibility of withdrawing troops was a surprise for all concerned. According to research conducted by POLITICO's partner publication “Die Welt”, the US Department of Defense was also surprised. On Friday, the White House went a step further and announced that 5,000 people would leave Germany within 12 months. soldiers.
And that's not all. During his second term, Trump's unpredictability towards allies and trading partners reached a new level. On Friday, the president unexpectedly announced that he was raising taxes starting next week American customs for passenger cars and trucks imported from the EU to the USA up to 25%.
The common defense policy within NATO is also suffering more and more damage due to the unpredictable steps of the White House. Recently, for the first time, the Pentagon did not present a plan for a military presence. This is a planned shortage that, from Trump's point of view, is intended to put pressure on partners.
Fear and criticism
At the same time, however, it means huge a risk to the West's defense and deterrence capabilities.
According to a POLITICO analysis, the Pentagon is currently planning which units must leave the country. However, according to information from two US representatives, the final decision has not been made yet. From the point of view of Germany and Europe, what type of units will be withdrawn will be decisive.
If it's a rotating brigade like the one President Barack Obama sent in 2014 as a reinforcement in response to Russia's first invasion of Ukraine, experts would consider it less destabilizing. However, if it is a permanent brigade or even the so-called a multi-domain task force that can act in defense at all military levels, this would represent a clear weakening of German and European deterrence capabilities. Such a task force is stationed in Wiesbadenwhere the U.S. Army's headquarters for Europe and Africa is located.
Trump's withdrawal order, which many commentators in Washington and Berlin see as a response to Merz's criticism of the war with Iran, worries not only military experts. Republicans Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers also expressed clearly critical views on Saturday.
In their opinion, Europeans need time to implement the promised “investments in military capabilities” and “take over primary responsibility for conventional deterrence.” “The premature reduction of the US presence in Europe, ordered by Trump at short notice, before these capabilities are fully built, carries the risk of weakening deterrence and sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin” – wrote two influential politicians.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
