The United States is pulling out about 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced Friday, in the latest rift in the transatlantic ties over the Middle East war.
The move came as U.S. President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union will increase to 25% next week, accusing the bloc of not complying with a trade deal inked last summer.
Trump has renewed criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said Monday that Iran was "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table. Trump said Merz "thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn't know what he's talking about!"
On Wednesday, the American leader said Washington was "studying and reviewing the possible reduction" of U.S. troops in Germany, and that he would decide in a "short period of time."
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a Friday statement that "We expect the withdrawal to be completed over the next six to twelve months."
