German Chancellor Merz: I will not give up on continuing cooperation with Trump

German Chancellor Merz: I will not give up on continuing cooperation with Trump

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that he remains committed to the relationship despite disagreements with US President Donald Trump, and pointed out that America's supply capacity for Tomahawk missiles is limited.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of continuing relations with Washington despite recent issues that have emerged with US President Donald Trump regarding the war in Iran and military deployments. Speaking on a program broadcast by the German public broadcaster ARD, Merz stated that the tension between the two countries is being exaggerated, saying, "I continue to work on transatlantic relations."

Despite the differences of opinion that have emerged with the US, Merz stated, "I will not give up on cooperating with Donald Trump," and expressed that he did not see Trump's recent decision to withdraw some American troops from Germany as an "unexpected development." Merz also said that this development was independent of recent disagreements.

Arguing that Trump's plan to withdraw approximately 5,000 American troops from Germany does not amount to "retaliation," Merz added that this decision should be evaluated as an isolated military adjustment.

"WHAT DOES MERZ THINK ABOUT THE WAR IN IRAN"

One of the biggest disagreements between the two leaders stems from the war in Iran and the approach to the Tehran administration. Trump had accused Merz of "welcoming Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons" and Berlin of "displaying a weak economic and political stance"; in response to these accusations, Merz underscored that Germany's confidence in its relations with the US within the North Atlantic Alliance has not been shaken.

While acknowledging that there is no consensus in his assessments with Trump regarding Iran, Friedrich Merz stated that they agree on the point that Tehran should not possess nuclear weapons. Merz said, "Our perspectives on this war may differ, but the Americans are our most valuable allies in the North Atlantic Alliance."

Following Trump's criticisms of Germany, the US administration had announced that it would reduce the number of American troops in Germany and increase customs tariffs on vehicles and trucks imported from the European Union. The US President had also engaged in heated debates with the leaders of Spain and the UK, not just Germany, due to the war in Iran.

"THE US DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT SUPPLY CAPACITY FOR TOMAHAWKS"

In the program, Merz also addressed claims that plans regarding the deployment of Tomahawk missiles to Germany could be canceled. Pointing out that the US has insufficient supply capacity for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, he said, "At the moment, the possibility of the US supplying these weapon systems seems almost non-existent."

While stating that there are not even enough Tomahawk missile systems in the American military, Merz expressed that the wars in Iran and Ukraine are straining the US's logistical capacity. However, he also stated that there is hope that this situation could change in the future.