- Merz says the withdrawal is not linked to his criticism of US Iran policy.
- Pentagon to cut 5,000 troops from Germany, causing concern.
- The Biden-era missile deployment plan was also seen as abandoned.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he must accept that President Donald Trump does not share his views on working with the United States within Nato, but stressed there was no connection between their split and a planned troop drawdown.
Merz rejected suggestions that his criticism of US war planning in Iran had triggered Washington’s announcement on Friday that the US would reduce its military presence in Germany, its largest European base, by 5,000 troops and reiterated its commitment to the transatlantic alliance.
Merz had questioned whether Trump had an exit plan for the Middle East, saying the US was “embarrassed” in negotiations with Iran. Trump later called Merz an “ineffective” leader.
“I have to accept that the American president has a different view on these issues than we do. But that does not change the fact that I remain convinced that the Americans are important partners for us,” Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview to be broadcast later on Sunday.
Asked if US plans to reduce its troop presence in Germany had anything to do with the spat between the two leaders, Merz said: “There is no connection.”
Trump called for a reduced US military presence in Germany as early as his first term and has repeatedly urged Europeans to take greater responsibility for their own security.
Friday’s announcement is also seen as a cancellation of a plan under Joe Biden’s administration to deploy a US battalion of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany.
This is a blow to Berlin, which had pushed for the move as a strong deterrent against Russia while the Europeans develop such weapons of their own.
Merz said Trump had never committed to this plan and that the US was unlikely to abandon such weapons systems, adding: “If I’m not mistaken, the Americans don’t have enough of themselves at the moment.”
