The decision to withdraw 5,000 active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces from Germany is currently being planned by the Pentagon, according to high-ranking defense officials cited by local media this Friday.

The measure, advanced by senior commanders, reflects Trump’s dissatisfaction; he had already threatened earlier this week to withdraw troops due to the lack of support from European allies in the war against Iran.

This action is also interpreted as a reaction to criticisms from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who accused the Republican leader of being "humiliated" by Tehran during negotiations to reach an agreement.

Currently, the U.S. Army maintains a massive presence in Germany with more than 36,000 active-duty soldiers distributed across several key installations, including:

• Ramstein Air Base

• Wiesbaden Headquarters

• Grafenwöhr and Hohenfels training areas (Bavaria)

• Spangdahlem Air Base

• Stuttgart Military Complex

Yesterday, Trump warned Merz that he should focus more on "fixing" his "broken" country and ending the war in Ukraine rather than "interfering" in the conflict with Iran—a new volley in the exchange of criticisms between the two leaders.

The Republican accused the European leader of failing to support the U.S. in the war against Iran and of believing "it is okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon," further emphasizing: "No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both economically and in other aspects!"

While Merz initially supported U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, his stance has become increasingly critical over time, earning him reproaches from Trump.

Trump has repeatedly criticized his European allies for failing to answer Washington's call. The U.S., alongside Tel Aviv, initiated the war against Tehran on February 28, without prior consultation or communication with NATO partners.