The German Defense Minister calls on Europe to strengthen its security

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius indicated on Saturday that Washington’s announcement of its intention to withdraw thousands of its forces from Germany within a year was “expected,” stressing the need for Europe to make more efforts to enhance its security.

Pistorius said in a statement sent by his ministry to Agence France-Presse, “The withdrawal of American forces from Europe, and also from Germany, was expected. We Europeans must bear greater responsibility for our security.”

The Pentagon announced on Friday that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the withdrawal of about five thousand soldiers from Germany within a year, representing approximately 15% of the US forces stationed in the European country.

This comes at a time when US President Donald Trump announced raising customs duties on cars and trucks imported from the European Union to 25% next week, accusing the bloc of not adhering to a trade agreement signed last summer.

Trump renewed his criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said Monday that Iran is “humilizing” Washington at the negotiating table. Trump said that Meretz “believes it’s acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

The US President said on Wednesday that Washington was “reviewing the possibility of reducing” its forces in Germany, indicating that he would make a decision on this matter in a “short period of time.”