German Defense Minister Not Surprised by US Troop Reduction, Germany to Build Strongest Military in Europe
Germany's Defense Minister expressed no surprise at the US decision to cut 5,000 troops from Germany, emphasizing that Europe must take on greater responsibility for its own security. Germany has announced a plan to become Europe's strongest military power within 14 years.
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- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 18:57
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Berlin, May 2 (CNA) — Germany's Defense Minister today expressed no surprise at Washington's move after the United States announced it would cut 5,000 troops from Germany, saying Europe needs to assume more responsibility for its own security. Germany recently announced guidelines aimed at building itself into Europe's strongest military force within 14 years.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated: 'The US military is reducing its presence in Europe, and also reducing troops from Germany, which is to be expected.'
Pistorius said: 'We in Europe must take greater responsibility for our own security,' noting that Germany is moving in the 'right direction' in this regard, citing actions such as expanding the size of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces), increasing and accelerating arms procurement, and improving infrastructure.
The US Pentagon announced on May 1 that it would reduce 5,000 troops from Germany, a NATO ally. Pistorius estimated that the current number of US troops stationed in Germany is 'close to 40,000.'
Facing stern criticism from Washington regarding defense spending, European NATO members, including Germany, have committed to taking more responsibility for their own defense. However, due to tight budgets and significant gaps in military capabilities, Europe will still need many years to meet its own security needs.
Pistorius said: 'The presence of US troops in Europe, especially in Germany, is in our interest, and also in the interest of the United States.' But the reduction of US troops from Europe, including Germany, was 'a foreseeable situation.'
Defense News reported that on April 22, Germany released a series of programmatic strategic documents, including its first dedicated military strategy, a new force blueprint, personnel expansion plans, and a redesigned reserve force strategy, aiming to build itself into Europe's strongest military force by the end of 2039.
Pistorius first announced this package at the annual military conference last November, describing it as a historic turning point. High-ranking officials from the German Ministry of Defense submitted the final documents to parliament at the end of April and released non-classified summaries on April 22.
The military strategy, named 'Responsibility for Europe' (Verantwortung für Europa), regards Russia as the main threat and lists various scenarios for potential attacks on NATO. The strategy also highlights a shift in military doctrine, adopting a 'one theater approach' that views NATO, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific as interconnected security spaces rather than separate theaters.
He pointed out that deep precision strikes, air defense capabilities against hypersonic missiles, and drone warfare capabilities are priority development areas, emphasizing that Germany needs to start from scratch in long-range strike capabilities.
The troop expansion plan aims to increase the number of active duty German forces from the current 185,420 to 260,000 by the mid-2030s, while the reserve forces will also be expanded from the current approximately 60,000 to at least 200,000, bringing the total combat-ready force to 460,000.
The troop increase plan is divided into three phases: a rapid expansion phase until 2029, a capability-oriented expansion phase until 2035, and a long-term technology-driven development phase until 2039 and beyond. New laws effective January 2026 have already incorporated these timelines; if recruitment targets are not met, conscription (which has been listed as a contingency plan after amendments to the conscription law) will not be ruled out.
The clear goal of the German military is to become the strongest conventional operational force in Europe by the end of 2039.
For many years, reservists in Germany were seen as a secondary force to be mobilized only in emergencies, but they are now explicitly elevated and positioned as 'equally important as active duty forces,' with a dedicated strategy. The plan is for reserve forces to be responsible for homeland defense and to ensure Germany can function as a logistical hub, supporting allied forces moving eastward during crises. (Translators: Liu Shu-chin, Chen Yi-wei) 1150502
According to reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated: 'The US military is reducing its presence in Europe, and also reducing troops from Germany, which is to be expected.'
Pistorius said: 'We in Europe must take greater responsibility for our own security,' noting that Germany is moving in the 'right direction' in this regard, citing actions such as expanding the size of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces), increasing and accelerating arms procurement, and improving infrastructure.
The US Pentagon announced on May 1 that it would reduce 5,000 troops from Germany, a NATO ally. Pistorius estimated that the current number of US troops stationed in Germany is 'close to 40,000.'
Facing stern criticism from Washington regarding defense spending, European NATO members, including Germany, have committed to taking more responsibility for their own defense. However, due to tight budgets and significant gaps in military capabilities, Europe will still need many years to meet its own security needs.
Pistorius said: 'The presence of US troops in Europe, especially in Germany, is in our interest, and also in the interest of the United States.' But the reduction of US troops from Europe, including Germany, was 'a foreseeable situation.'
Defense News reported that on April 22, Germany released a series of programmatic strategic documents, including its first dedicated military strategy, a new force blueprint, personnel expansion plans, and a redesigned reserve force strategy, aiming to build itself into Europe's strongest military force by the end of 2039.
Pistorius first announced this package at the annual military conference last November, describing it as a historic turning point. High-ranking officials from the German Ministry of Defense submitted the final documents to parliament at the end of April and released non-classified summaries on April 22.
The military strategy, named 'Responsibility for Europe' (Verantwortung für Europa), regards Russia as the main threat and lists various scenarios for potential attacks on NATO. The strategy also highlights a shift in military doctrine, adopting a 'one theater approach' that views NATO, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific as interconnected security spaces rather than separate theaters.
He pointed out that deep precision strikes, air defense capabilities against hypersonic missiles, and drone warfare capabilities are priority development areas, emphasizing that Germany needs to start from scratch in long-range strike capabilities.
The troop expansion plan aims to increase the number of active duty German forces from the current 185,420 to 260,000 by the mid-2030s, while the reserve forces will also be expanded from the current approximately 60,000 to at least 200,000, bringing the total combat-ready force to 460,000.
The troop increase plan is divided into three phases: a rapid expansion phase until 2029, a capability-oriented expansion phase until 2035, and a long-term technology-driven development phase until 2039 and beyond. New laws effective January 2026 have already incorporated these timelines; if recruitment targets are not met, conscription (which has been listed as a contingency plan after amendments to the conscription law) will not be ruled out.
The clear goal of the German military is to become the strongest conventional operational force in Europe by the end of 2039.
For many years, reservists in Germany were seen as a secondary force to be mobilized only in emergencies, but they are now explicitly elevated and positioned as 'equally important as active duty forces,' with a dedicated strategy. The plan is for reserve forces to be responsible for homeland defense and to ensure Germany can function as a logistical hub, supporting allied forces moving eastward during crises. (Translators: Liu Shu-chin, Chen Yi-wei) 1150502