Donald Trump pulls 5,000 troops from Germany after bitter row with Chancellor

Donald Trump is to pull around 5,000 American troops from Germany after his war of words with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Defence officials revealed the President made his move in response to his European allies' refusal to pitch in with offensive action in Iran.

Then, over the last few days, Mr Merz repeatedly attacked the US, claiming the Americans "have no strategy" in Iran, and were being "humiliated" by Tehran's negotiators.

That led to the President writing on social media that the Chancellor "doesn't know what he's talking about" and was "interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran nuclear threat".

He later confirmed the US "is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany".

In a further sign of where Mr Trump's priorities lie, the officials told CBS News some of the troops may soon be sent to the Indo-Pacific - on China's doorstep.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the mass pull-out would take place within the next year.

"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.

The withdrawal is also significant because Germany is, by far, home to the most American troops of any country in Europe.

Some 36,000 active duty personnel are in the country - almost three times the number in second-placed Italy, and more than triple that in Britain.

In Mr Trump's first term in the White House, he also tried to remove troops from the country - which was later overturned by Joe Biden.