The news came as a shock in Germany, where around 40,000 Americans are stationed: a strategic and symbolic military presence that has held since the postwar era. The withdrawn troops are due to leave in the next six to 12 months.

It comes just days after the German chancellor criticised the US approach to the war in Iran.

The U.S. is considering the possibility of reducing the number of troops it has stationed in Germany, President Donald Trump said.

Dopo le dichiarazioni di Merz

A senior Pentagon official said recent rhetoric from Germany was ‘unhelpful’