Arabic version: ميركل تقلل من مخاوف انسحاب القوات الأمريكية من ألمانيا

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has tried to downplay tensions with the United States after Washington announced plans to reduce the number of American troops in Germany. Merz said on Sunday that US plans to withdraw troops have “no connection” to the rift with President Donald Trump over his strategy in Iran. According to Al Jazeera, Merz expressed his belief in the significance of the American alliance despite the troop drawdown.

Trouble started last Monday when Merz appeared to criticise Trump’s actions in Iran, where the US and Israel started a war without consulting Washington’s NATO allies. Iran was “humiliating” the US, Merz said, warning that Washington did not have a clear path out of the conflict. This prompted a backlash from Trump, who scolded Merz over the remarks, saying the German leader “doesn’t know what he is talking about” and threatening to withdraw American soldiers. On Friday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the withdrawal of around 5,000 American soldiers over the next 12 months, which is expected to cut the number of US troops in the country by about 14 percent.

Germany currently hosts the highest number of US troops in Europe—about 36,000 soldiers. The withdrawal follows increased tensions related to the war in Iran, which has seen a lack of support from many EU nations. As a result, Trump has criticized European allies for their reliance on US military support, leading to calls for increased European defense spending.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius remarked that the US decision to draw down troops in Germany “was foreseeable”, reinforcing the idea that Europeans must assume more responsibility for their security. Meanwhile, NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart posted on X that the alliance is “working with the US to understand the details of their decision”, highlighting the ongoing importance of transatlantic relations.