The United States has approximately 80,000 troops deployed in Europe, but the size and structure of this contingent are constantly adjusted to reflect changes in the international situation, a spokesman for the US European Command (EUCOM) told TASS.
„Currently, approximately 80,000 American troops are deployed in Europe. Approximately 38,000 of them are permanently and rotationally deployed in Germany“, said a spokesman for EUCOM. He specified that in Germany these forces are deployed in “places such as Wiesbaden, Rhine-Palatinate, Stuttgart and Bavaria“.
„This number fluctuates constantly, practically on a monthly basis. These fluctuations are due to planned exercises and rotation of forces in the theater of operations,“ said a spokesman for the US European Command.
“We constantly review and adjust the structure and size of our forces as circumstances change, using a combination of permanent and temporary forces as leverage,“ emphasized a spokesman for EUCOM. He added that decisions on this issue are made by Washington in consultation with its NATO partners.
“We also consult closely with NATO allies to ensure the appropriate structure and size of collective forces for deterrence and defense. Our allies contribute their own forces and capabilities to ensure our collective deterrence and defense capability“, the EUCOM spokesman noted.
Donald Trump announced on April 29 that the United States is considering reducing its military contingent stationed in Germany and will make a decision on this issue soon. Answering questions from journalists on April 30, Trump admitted that the United States could reduce the number of troops not only in Germany, but also in Italy and Spain.
According to Politico, the US President's announcement of a possible withdrawal of troops from Germany has “shocked the Pentagon“. Three US military officials told the media that there is now talk of “potential new efforts to withdraw hundreds, if not thousands, of US troops from Germany“.
The largest concentration of US troops in Europe is in Germany.