Trump is cutting the numbers of US troops in Europe. Here’s how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth abruptly canceled two major US military deployments to Europe and ordered the removal of other personnel from the continent, according to two defense officials. The moves, which include the cancellation of a scheduled rotation of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and the future deployment of a long-range rocket and missile battalion to Germany, are part of a broader effort to reduce the number of US troops in Europe following criticism from President Donald Trump about support from European allies. The decision comes after Trump publicly criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had accused the US of being “humiliated” by Iran and repeatedly called out NATO countries for not participating in the Iran war. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced on May 1 that the Pentagon would withdraw roughly 5,000 troops from Germany after a “thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe.” The cancellation of scheduled rotations and deployments is seen as a way to address logistical challenges of quickly withdrawing forces permanently stationed in Germany, particularly those whose families are also stationed there, while still reducing troop numbers. The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, which includes approximately 4,700 soldiers, had been scheduled to rotate through Poland and other countries including the Baltic states and Romania. Some personnel from the brigade were already in Europe and are now being redeployed back to the US. The memo also canceled the future deployment to Germany of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, a unit specializing in long-range rockets and missiles, and directed that a command in Europe overseeing those capabilities be removed from the continent.#trump #pete_hegseth #germany #friedrich_merz #sean_parnell
