Pistorius: It was predictable that the US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said it was predictable that the United States (US) would withdraw troops from Europe, after the Pentagon announced it would withdraw thousands of American soldiers from Germany, the British newspaper The Guardian reported today.

The outlet reported that US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US would withdraw 5.000 active-duty troops from NATO ally Germany over the next six to 12 months, fulfilling earlier threats after a clash with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war.

Earlier this week, Merck said Iran had "humiliated" the US and questioned how Trump planned to end the conflict, saying: "The Americans clearly have no strategy."

Responding to the announcement of plans to withdraw 5.000 US troops from Germany, Pistorius said: "It was foreseeable that the US would withdraw troops from Europe, including Germany."

He added that Europeans must take greater responsibility for their own security and that Germany is "on the right track" in this regard.

Germany is the largest US military base in Europe, with about 35.000 active duty troops, and serves as a key training hub.

Pistorius said Germany was "on the right track" in taking steps to strengthen the country's defense capabilities, pointing to the expansion of the Bundeswehr armed forces, greater and faster procurement of equipment and the construction of infrastructure.