The co-chair of Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Tino Chrupalla, issued a formal call on Saturday, March 28, 2026, for the complete withdrawal of United States military personnel from German soil. Speaking at a party congress in the city of Löbau, Chrupalla argued that the ongoing U.S.-led war in Iran—which has seen U.S. troop levels in the Middle East surge to over 50,000—threatens to draw Germany into a “catastrophic international conflict” against its own national interests.
“Not Our War”: The AfD’s Sovereignty Argument
The AfD’s demand marks a sharp escalation in the party’s “Germany First” foreign policy, which has become increasingly anti-interventionist as the conflict with Iran intensifies.
- Avoiding Entrapment: Chrupalla emphasized that Germany must “stop being a secondary theater” for American strategic objectives. “Let’s start implementing this, with the withdrawal of American troops from Germany,” he stated, as quoted by Bild.
- The “Peace President” Critique: Chrupalla directly attacked President Trump’s shift in posture, noting that while Trump “started off as a peace president,” his current trajectory in the Middle East suggests he will “end up as a president of war.”
- Economic Concerns: The party also linked the U.S. presence to the current energy crisis, arguing that a pivot toward sovereign neutrality would allow Germany to restore gas imports from Russia and lower skyrocketing fuel prices.
Strategic Hubs: Ramstein and Spangdahlem Under Scrutiny
The AfD’s demand specifically targets the massive U.S. military infrastructure in Germany, which serves as the backbone for operations in the Middle East and Africa.
- Ramstein Air Base: Iran’s ambassador to Berlin has already sought clarification on whether Ramstein is being used as a direct combat hub for strikes on Iranian territory.
- Spangdahlem Air Base: The base remains a critical node for U.S. logistical support and air superiority in the region.
- The “Illegal War” Argument: A recent study commissioned by the opposition party The Left—and echoed by AfD leadership—claims the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran violate the UN Charter, raising legal questions about Germany’s “complicity” by hosting the facilitating bases.
The Trump Counter-Pressure: 5% GDP or Withdrawal?
Ironically, the AfD’s demand for withdrawal aligns with recent reports that President Trump is himself considering a pullout from Germany.
- The “5% Rule”: Reports from The Telegraph indicate that Trump is frustrated with NATO allies who do not meet his new 5% of GDP defense spending target.
- Voting Rights: Sources close to the administration suggest Trump believes countries not paying the 5% threshold “shouldn’t be allowed to vote on future expenditures at NATO.”
- The “Transactional” Pullout: Unlike the AfD, which seeks withdrawal for the sake of neutrality, Trump’s potential withdrawal is a “protection racket” tactic designed to force European allies into greater military spending or to shift assets closer to the “hot spots” in the Middle East.
| Political Entity | Position on U.S. Troops | Primary Motivation |
| AfD Party | Immediate Withdrawal | Sovereignty; Avoiding war with Iran/Russia. |
| Chancellor Merz (CDU) | Maintain Presence | Alliance solidarity; Post-war reconstruction. |
| President Trump | Conditional Withdrawal | Burden-sharing; 5% GDP spending requirement. |
| The Left Party | Legal Challenge | Alleged violation of international law. |
Government Response: The “Brandmauer” Holds
The coalition government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected the AfD’s demands, maintaining that the U.S. presence is governed by international agreements that Germany will not restrict. While Merz has expressed “growing concern” about the costs of the Iran war, the German “firewall” against cooperating with the AfD remains intact, even as the party polls at record highs heading into the late-2026 state elections.
