US plans to accelerate troop withdrawal from European bases

The United States is preparing to speed up the withdrawal of its troops from military bases in Europe and will present its proposals to NATO allies next month, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported Saturday, citing a Pentagon source.

According to Reuters, the move follows Washington’s announcement in May that it intends to pull 5,000 soldiers from Germany, where around 35,000 active-duty US troops are currently stationed—the largest American military presence in any European country. The decision is widely seen as a consequence of tensions between President Donald Trump and European governments over policy disagreements regarding Iran.

Few additional details about the planned reduction have been disclosed. The Pentagon has not yet commented on the report, which suggests the US will outline its withdrawal plans during NATO’s upcoming force structure conference next month.