US to cut troop levels in Germany by 5,000 amid Trump spat with Merz

The US Department of Defence plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, amid a spat between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war with Iran. The decision comes a day after Trump criticised Merz, who suggested the US had been "humiliated" by Iranian negotiators. In social media posts on Thursday, Trump said Merz was "doing a terrible job" and had "problems of all kinds", including on immigration and energy. Trump has also suggested pulling US troops from Italy and Spain.The US has a significant military presence in Germany, with more than 36,000 active duty troops assigned to bases across the country as of last December.In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the order had come from Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth."This decision follows a thorough review of the Department's force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground," he said."We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months."Trump, a longtime critic of the Nato alliance, has been lashing out at allies over their refusal to participate in operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.