The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Germany’s chancellor said there is no connection between a reported dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump and Washington’s decision to reduce its military presence in Germany, according to Reuters.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he accepts that Trump holds
different views but stressed that cooperation within NATO remains essential. He
reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance despite recent
tensions.
Merz rejected suggestions that his criticism of U.S. war
planning regarding Iran prompted the United States to announce on Friday a reduction
of 5,000 troops from Germany, which hosts Washington’s largest military base in
Europe.
“I have to accept that the American president has a
different view on these issues than we do,” Merz said in an interview with
public broadcaster ARD. “But that does not change the fact that I remain
convinced that the Americans are important partners for us.”
Responding to questions about whether the troop reduction
was linked to disagreements between the two leaders, Merz said, “There is no
connection.”
Tensions between the two escalated after Merz questioned
whether Trump had a clear strategy for the Middle East and described U.S.
negotiations with Iran as “embarrassing.” Trump later described Merz as an
“ineffectual” leader.
Trump has long advocated reducing U.S. military presence in
Germany and has repeatedly urged European countries to take greater
responsibility for their own defense.
The recent announcement is also seen as effectively
canceling a plan introduced under former President Joe Biden to deploy a U.S.
battalion equipped with long-range Tomahawk missiles in Germany — a move Berlin
had supported as a deterrent against Russia.
Merz noted that Trump had never formally committed to that
deployment plan and suggested the United States may be reluctant to part with
such weapons systems, adding that Washington may not have sufficient stockpiles
at present.
