5,000 Troops Withdrawn. $574 Billion in Response.
Trump announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany out of approximately 36,400 stationed there, a 14% reduction. He threatened further cuts from bases in Spain and Italy. Congress responded by setting a legal floor of 76,000 deployed service members in Europe to block deeper withdrawals.
5,000 troops withdrawn. $574 billion spent by allies on defense. 20% increase in one year. All NATO members now meet 2% GDP for the first time.
European and Canadian allies invested $574 billion in defense in 2025, a real increase of 20% over 2024. European defense budgets rose from $218 billion in 2021 to $381 billion in 2025. At the Hague Summit, allies committed to 5% of GDP on defense by 2035. All allies met or exceeded the 2% target for the first time, up from only 3 in 2014.
The Strategy Question
The troop withdrawal is not about cost savings. The U.S. spends $886 billion annually on defense. 5,000 troops in Germany cost a fraction of that. The withdrawal signals that the alliance America built after World War II is no longer a priority.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated the withdrawal “will not have an impact on NATO’s defense plans” but acknowledged the drawdown has “only just begun.” European allies are spending more because they are preparing for an America that may not show up.