Washington, May 3 -- The United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany in the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump's threat as he clashes with the German leader over the US war with Iran.Trump had threatened to withdraw some troops from the NATO ally earlier this week after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being "humiliated" by the Iranian leadership and criticised Washington's lack of strategy in the war. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that the "decision follows a thorough review of the Department's force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theatre requirements and conditions on the ground." Germany hosts several US military facilities, including the headquarters of its European and Africa commands, Ramstein Air Base and a medical centre in Landstuhl, where casualties from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated. US nuclear missiles are also stationed in the country. The number of troops leaving Germany would be 14 per cent of the 36,000 American service members stationed there.German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius called it "foreseeable" that the US would withdraw troops from Europe and Germany, while he sought to stress mutual benefit from the US military presence on the European continent. "The presence of American soldiers in Europe, and especially in Germany, is in our interest and in the interest of the US," Pistorius told the German news agency dpa, while adding that European allies needed to adjust their defence postures - and were doing so. "We Europeans must take on more responsibility for our security," he said, stressing recent efforts by Germany to boost its armed forces, accelerate procurement and develop infrastructure. News of the troop withdrawal drew swift pushback from Democrats in Congress as well as a hawkish Washington think tank. They said the move will benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin....