United States President Donald Trump, who has been sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in recent days, said on Thursday that his administration is considering reducing the number of US troops in Germany.Trump has criticised Germany and other NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, as the US and Israeli war with Iran continues to hold up global oil distribution via the critical waterway Jeff Rathke, a former US diplomat and president of the American-German Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said Trump sought a major reduction in US troop levels in Germany during his first term, but that was never realised.Rathke said the US military benefited greatly from having a forward presence at bases overseas, including Ramstein in Germany."US forces in Europe are not a charitable contribution to ungrateful Europeans — they are an instrument of America’s global military reach," he said.US and German military officials say their working relationship remains strong despite Trump's sporadic social media posts about quitting NATO or cutting troops.For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.