Ammon News - Germany's defence minister said the withdrawal of US troops from Germany had been expected and that Europe needed to do more to ensure its own security.

"That US troops are withdrawing from Europe and also from Germany was to be expected," Boris Pistorius said in a statement sent to AFP by his ministry. "We Europeans must take greater responsibility for our security," he added.

The Pentagon confirmed Friday that the US had ordered the withdrawal of some 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year.