Trump says US studying troop cuts in Germany, after Merz…
The US is "studying" whether to reduce the thousands of troops it has stationed in Germany, President Donald Trump has announced via social media. In his post, Trump said he was "studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time." The US has a significant military presence in Germany, with more than 36,000 active duty troops assigned to bases across the country as of last December.
Merz made no mention of Trump's comments during a visit to German soldiers in Northern Germany on Wednesday, although he went out of his way to stress the importance of the Nato defensive alliance and "transatlantic solidarity". Trump responded the following day with a post to Truth Social, where he said Merz thought it was "OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon" and "doesn't know what he's talking about." "No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!" the post read.
When asked about the post in a press conference on Wednesday, Merz said the "personal relationship between the American president and myself remains just as good as before." He has not yet responded to Trump's suggestion that he could reduce US troops in Germany. In 2020, a proposal to move 12,000 US troops from Germany either to other Nato countries in Europe or back to the US, was blocked by Congress and then reversed by President Joe Biden.
Merz said after talks with Trump in Washington in March that Trump had assured him the US would maintain its military presence in Germany, adding that he had not expected anything else. However, while Merz has this week complained of the economic consequences for Europe of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump has been angered by the response of Nato allies in Europe to the war in Iran.
Analysis: Why This Matters
Geopolitical moves around Germany President rarely stay local — expect knock-on effects on policy and markets.
Key Takeaways
- In 2020, a proposal to move 12,000 US troops from Germany either to other Nato countries in Europe or back to the US, was blocked by Congress and then reversed by President Joe Biden.
- However, while Merz has this week complained of the economic consequences for Europe of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump has been angered by the response of Nato allies in Europe to the war in Iran.
- His remarks came days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised his approach to the war in Iran, suggesting that US had been "humiliated" by Iranian negotiators.
Expect more international reaction in the coming hours; this story is far from settled.
Source: BBC World