Why does the US have military bases in Germany — and will Trump follow through on his threat to cut numbers?

Why does the US have military bases in Germany – and will Trump follow through on his threat to cut numbers?

Five of the seven US army garrisons in Europe are in Germany (the others are in Belgium and Italy). Besides Stuttgart, the biggest US installations include the huge Ramstein airbase. File picture

Donald Trump has said the US is “studying and reviewing the possible reduction” of its troops stationed in Germany, days after the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, suggested Washington was being outplayed and “humiliated” by Iran.

The US president said a “determination” on the US military presence in Germany, seen as a key part of Nato’s defences but also vital for the projection of US power in other parts of the world, would be made “over the next short period of time”.