Politico: US-German relations at breaking point, how far can the Trump-Mertz rift go

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s relationship with US President Donald Trump appears to be at a crisis point after the former’s statements on the war in Iran provoked a strong reaction from Washington and revived scenarios of the withdrawal of US forces from Germany.

The German Chancellor spent months walking a tightrope with Donald Trump. Now, he appears to be losing his balance, Politico describes the crisis in the relationship between the two leaders.

According to the report, Merz had chosen to make more concessions than other European leaders, considering it essential to maintain good relations with Washington. At the same time, however, growing political pressure in the country led him to become more critical of the US president, who is particularly unpopular with German public opinion.

Tensions came to a head after Merz gave a speech at a school in which he claimed the United States was being “humiliated” by the Iranian regime. The statement prompted an immediate response from Trump, who, through the platform Truth Social, attacked the chancellor and left open the possibility of withdrawing American troops from Germany, a scenario that is a strategic nightmare for Berlin.

Merz tried to minimize the confrontation, assuring from a German military training ground that cooperation with the United States and its NATO allies remained strong. “We work together with the United States and our allies in strategically critical places,” he said, adding that the strengthening of the German armed forces is “for mutual benefit and to deepen the transatlantic bond”. Spain.

However, the US president continued his attacks, accusing Merz of focusing on the Russia-Ukraine war and Germany’s domestic problems, such as immigration and energy, rather than meddling in issues related to addressing the Iranian nuclear threat.

This tension marks a significant change in the climate between the two leaders, as Trump had previously spoken positively of the Merz government, while in a White House meeting he had described him as a “friend” who was doing a “very good job”.

The German Chancellor’s strategy was based on avoiding public confrontation in order to maintain open channels of communication and influence American decisions behind the scenes.

According to Politico, this approach reflects Germany’s overall strategy towards the US, at a time when transatlantic relations are being tested. Despite efforts to reduce dependence on Washington at the military and economic level, Berlin still considers American support essential, especially in the area of ​​nuclear deterrence and information sharing.

Despite the tensions, German officials appear to be cautiously reassuring, stressing that the presence of American forces in the country also serves US strategic interests. The deputy of the Social Democratic Party, Christoph Schmidt, said that an immediate withdrawal “is not feasible” and would weaken the operational capabilities of the American military at the international level.

It is recalled that during his first term, Trump announced a plan to withdraw approximately 9,500 American soldiers from Germany, which, however, was not implemented, as his presidential term ended before its implementation and the Joe Biden administration suspended it. initiative.

Today, with more time available, Trump could theoretically restore the plan, although for Merz the biggest risk may be the loss of influence in the White House, especially regarding support for Ukraine. /tesheshi

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Source: prizrenpost