How many US troops are in Europe and where are they deployed?

The United States is withdrawing 5.000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, following a public dispute over the Iran war between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The move is the most concrete announcement yet by the US government about reducing its military presence in Europe, after months of complaints from Washington that the region is not doing enough to support Americans in Iran and provide for its own security.

Reuters today published some key details about the US military presence in Europe.

How many American soldiers are there in Europe?

The United States had approximately 68.000 active-duty troops permanently deployed to its overseas bases in Europe as of December 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Defense Manpower Data Center. This does not include rotational forces sent on deployment and exercise missions.

The US military is deployed to 31 permanent bases and 19 other military locations to which the Department of Defense has access, according to a March 2024 congressional report.

What do American troops in Europe consist of?

US European Command oversees US military operations across Europe, working with NATO allies through six component commands representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Special Operations Forces, and the newly established Space Force.

These components are based in Germany and Italy, and are focused on crisis response and security cooperation across Europe and Africa.

Where are these troops deployed in Europe?

US troops are stationed in more than a dozen European countries. Germany, Italy and Britain have the largest presence of personnel. This list includes some of the largest contingents.

Germany - The largest US base in Europe is the air base near the German town of Ramstein, where troops have been stationed since 1952. According to the Defense Human Resources Data Center (DMDC), an institution within the US Department of Defense, in December 2025, there were 36.436 active duty service members stationed in Germany, distributed across five garrisons.

Italy - U.S. military personnel have been stationed in Italy since the end of World War II and include Army, Navy, and Air Force units. DMDC data shows that Italy had 12.662 active-duty U.S. troops at bases in Vicenza, Aviano, Naples, and Sicily at the end of 2025.

Britain - US forces in the United Kingdom had 10.156 personnel in December last year, spread across three bases, mostly Air Force personnel.

Spain - The country hosts US naval and air bases near the Strait of Gibraltar. DMDC data shows that as of December 2025, there were 3.814 personnel permanently stationed in Spain.

Poland - Poland hosts 369 permanently deployed active-duty service members, as well as about 10.000 rotational troops funded through the European Deterrence Initiative, according to DMDC and Congressional Research Service data. The personnel are deployed to four bases with temporary access to the United States.

Romania - Similar to Poland and other former communist bloc countries, Romania hosts a rotating U.S. military presence, with 153 permanently deployed service members, according to DMDC and the Congressional Research Service. Bases to which the U.S. has access include Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Camp Turzi, and Deveselu.

Hungary - The U.S. conducts rotational deployments and exercises in Hungary. The DMDC reported in December that there were 77 permanently deployed service members in the country, stationed at two bases — Kecskemet and Papa Air Base.