German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives a statement during his visit to the army at the Bundeswehr base in Munster, Germany, Thursday, April, 30, 2026. Markus Schreiber/AP hide caption

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Markus Schreiber/AP

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius sought to project calm Saturday after the Pentagon announced it would withdraw roughly 5,000 troops from his country, calling the decision "anticipated" and insisting his country is ready to shoulder more of the burden of its defense.

"The presence of American troops in Europe, and particularly in Germany, lies in our interest and in the interest of the US," the defense minister told German news agency dpa . Pistorius added that if Germany was to remain a transatlantic partner, it must work to strengthen the European pillar within NATO.…