Where are US forces stationed in Europe?
Key takeaways
- The United States operates various bases across the European continent.
- But since he returned to the White House in 2025, US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut troop numbers at those bases, most notably in Germany.
- After the end of World War II in 1945, the allied bloc which had defeated Nazi Germany disintegrated into two camps: one led by the US and other Western states, and another headed by the Soviet Union.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The United States operates various bases across the European continent. DW breaks down what these sites are used for, and how many troops are stationed there.
https://p.dw.com/p/5EDTLMost US troops in Europe are stationed in Germany, including at the Grafenwöhr training area in Bavaria Image: piemags/IMAGOAdvertisement American military personnel are a common sight across Europe, stationed in Germany but also far-flung regions like the Azores, Romania, northern Norway, Sicily and many other locations.
But since he returned to the White House in 2025, US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut troop numbers at those bases, most notably in Germany. A similar announcement to halt a scheduled deployment to Poland was walked back on Thursday, when Trump said he would send an additional 5,000 soldiers there due to his good personal relationship with Poland's right-wing nationalist president, Karol Nawrocki.