Germany-US spat over Iran war intensifies The spat between the US and Germany over the war on Iran is intensifying after Washington announced the withdrawal of 5,000 American troops from German soil. Responding to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's order on Friday, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday that "Europeans must take responsibility for our own security." Pistorius said the US move to withdraw troops from Germany, its largest European base, had been expected. US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have been sparring all week over the war on Iran. Read more: US-Germany spat over Iran intensifies as Hegseth orders troop removal