WASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of about 5,000 American troops from Germany, the Pentagon said Friday, two days after President Donald Trump said his administration was weighing a reduction of its service members in the allied country. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell issued a statement on the drawdown, which he said is expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months. “The Secretary of War has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany,” Parnell said in a statement, referring to the Pentagon chief. “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 added. The move came after tensions flared up between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this week. During a meeting with students Monday, Merz reportedly said that the Iranian leadership is “humiliating” the U.S. and that Washington does not appear to have a convincing strategy in the negotiations with Tehran. Trump hit back, claiming on Tru
