Merz reacts to US troop pullback, says it didn’t come out of nowhere
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump (Photo: Getty Images)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has played down the announced withdrawal of more than 5,000 American soldiers from the country. According to him, this isn't a new development but a long-discussed issue regarding the contingent that was originally stationed under Biden. Merz denies any connection to the conflict surrounding Iran, reports Welt.
"Nothing new here"
Speaking on ARD, Merz stated that the contingent in question was temporarily stationed by Biden, and its withdrawal has been under discussion for quite some time.
"Maybe things have gotten a bit more tense, but there's nothing new here," the chancellor said.
Merz rejects any direct link to the dispute with Trump over the war in Iran. He also assured that the US nuclear deterrent within NATO remains unchanged.
Tomahawks won't be coming – but the train hasn't left yet
Merz confirmed that the Tomahawk missiles promised by Biden will not arrive in Germany anytime soon.
The reason: the US is currently facing a shortage of such systems due to the war with Iran. At the same time, the chancellor emphasised that the train hasn't left – meaning the issue is still on the table.
On relations with Trump
Merz admitted that he has to come to terms with the US president's different stance, but called the US NATO's most important partner.
He did not retract his criticism of the US strategy on Iran, and confirmed that he told Trump he could reach out in advance if he needed support in future conflicts.
US President Donald Trump personally confirmed that American troops are being withdrawn from Germany, noting that more than 5,000 soldiers will leave the country.
The decision has raised concerns among Republicans, who are calling for the troops not to be withdrawn – or at least to be redeployed to the Middle East instead.
They believe the US risks undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin.
At the Pentagon – where some officials were shocked by the decision – Trump's plan has been confirmed, even though a withdrawal from the region had not been planned until recently. In a private conversation with The New York Times, one official described it as a punishment for Germany's stance on the war in Iran.
