As the transatlantic row unfolded last week, Merz visited German troops – Copyright AFP DANIEL REINHARDT
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday that he would not give up working with US President Donald Trump, despite a row between the leaders over the war in Iran.
“I am not giving up work on transatlantic relations,” Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday night. “I’m not giving up on working with Donald Trump either.”
Merz tried to play down any tension with Trump, arguing for example that a sudden public announcement that the US would withdraw 5,000 troops from bases in Germany was not surprising and should not be seen as retaliation.
“It might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s not new,” Merz told talk show host Caren Miosga.
Criticism of the US-Israel war against Iran by Merz and other European leaders has clearly aggravated Trump. The latest rift came after Merz said on April 27 that Iran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.
That provoked a series of angry responses from Washington, including Trump’s comments that Merz was doing a “terrible” job as chancellor.
Merz on Sunday said the US troop decision had “nothing to do” with the recent disputes.
– “Important partners” –
The chancellor also appeared to confirm that the planned deployment of US Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Germany – announced by former US President Joe Biden – was being cancelled, at least for now.
He cited depleted arsenals due to the wars in Iran and Ukraine as the reason.
“Americans themselves don’t have enough right now,” he said.
“Objectively speaking, there is hardly any possibility for the US to give up weapons systems of this type.”
But he insisted that “the train has not set off” for possible future cooperation and that European NATO powers could continue to deter Russia without those special missiles or US forces.
Trump’s criticism of European leaders has not been limited to Merz.
He previously mocked British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and told reporters on Thursday that “Italy has not helped us at all and Spain has been terrible, absolutely terrible.”
But Merz insisted he still shared Trump’s goal of ensuring Iran never got a nuclear weapon, even if he has criticized the US’s handling of the conflict.
“We have a different view on this war. That’s no secret,” Merz said in the interview. “I’m not the only one who feels this way.”
Merz insisted that Trump respects his right to have different views — though perhaps “a little less at the moment.”
“But that doesn’t change the fact that I remain convinced that the Americans are important partners for us – our most important partners in the North Atlantic alliance,” Merz said.
