German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has insisted he will maintain close ties with Washington despite plans by Donald Trump to withdraw thousands of US troops.
Speaking on German television, Merz said he would not give up on transatlantic relations or cooperation with Trump, even as differences persist over the Iran war.
Merz said he was convinced that “the Americans are important partners for us, the most important in the North Atlantic Alliance.”
He added that he must “accept” that the US president has a different opinion than the German government on issues such as the Iran nuclear deal. Nevertheless, Europe and the US have a “common interest” in “working together to end this conflict and then, for example, also the conflict, the war in Ukraine.”
Regarding the announced troop withdrawal, Merz said: “It might be exaggerated a bit, but it’s nothing new.”
Trump has said the US would reduce troop levels in Germany by “well over 5,000,” escalating an earlier announcement. Merz downplayed the move, saying this plan was not entirely new and had been framed more sharply.
