I am not giving up on transatlantic relationship, nor on working with Trump,” says Merz
Germany rejects link between troop pullout and dispute with Washington; transatlantic alliance intact as differences with Trump persist
Friedrich Merz said he remains committed to maintaining strong ties with the United States, despite recent tensions with Donald Trump over the war in Iran and trade disputes.
Speaking to the German broadcaster ARD, Merz downplayed the public disagreement with Trump, stressing that differences in views on the Iran conflict do not undermine the broader transatlantic partnership.
He also dismissed any link between the dispute and Washington’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, describing the move as expected and unrelated.
“I am not giving up on the transatlantic relationship, nor on working with Donald Trump,” Merz said, reaffirming Germany’s commitment to cooperation within the NATO framework.
The remarks follow criticism from Trump, who accused Merz of being soft on Iran after the German leader suggested that Tehran had gained leverage in negotiations.
Trump also took aim at Germany’s economic performance and announced new tariffs on European vehicles, a move likely to disproportionately affect Germany.
Despite the differences, Merz emphasized that Berlin and Washington share the strategic goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, dw.com reports.
“We have different views on this war, but the United States remains our most important partner in the North Atlantic alliance,” he said.
Separately, Merz indicated that plans for the deployment of US long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany are unlikely to proceed in the near term, citing limited US stockpiles amid ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.
He noted that while current conditions may delay such military cooperation, the situation could change in the future depending on strategic developments.
