BERLIN -- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday that the planned withdrawal of US troops from Germany was "foreseeable" and called on Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security.

He made the remarks in an interview with the German Press Agency (DPA) following the Pentagon's announcement on Friday that it would pull about 5,000 US troops out of Germany, a process expected to be completed within six to 12 months.

The move came after recent public friction between the two countries' leaders over the war in Iran and a social media post by US President Donald Trump regarding a troop pullout assessment.

In the interview, Pistorius emphasized that the presence of US soldiers in Europe, and specifically in Germany, is in the interest of both Berlin and Washington.

To maintain a strong transatlantic bond, NATO must become more "European," Pistorius said, adding that "we Europeans must take greater responsibility for our security."