Trump is now fighting with Merz and threatens to withdraw troops from Germany
Diplomatic tension grows between Berlin and Washington, after the German chancellor criticized the US management of the war in Iran
BerlinThe relations between Berlin and Washington are not going through their best moment, after the exchange of mutual criticism between President Donald Trump and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump threatened on Wednesday to withdraw American troops from Germany, after Merz's repeated criticism of the United States and Israel's war against Iran and its exit strategy from this conflict. “The United States is studying and analyzing the possible reduction of troops in Germany and a decision will be made in a short period,” Trump said on his official Truth Social account.
The German government has reacted calmly to Trump's new threat to withdraw American soldiers from Germany. During a visit to the troops at a military base in Münster (Germany), Merz reiterated on Thursday the importance of the transatlantic relationship, without mentioning the occupant of the White House or alluding to his threats. To the question of whether an eventual withdrawal of American troops worried him, the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul, replied with a brief "no". Wadephul recalled that the United States had already made it clear during Barack Obama's presidency that they wanted to focus more on the Pacific region.
The German minister, who assumes that there will be troop cuts sooner or later, does not foresee, however, a closure of American bases in Germany. “The United States needs these bases,” Wadephul assured, referring to the bases in Ramstein, Landstuhl, and Grafenwöhr, which serve “our security” as much as the security of the United States.
Merz has become Trump's latest victim, who has harshly criticized other European heads of state and governmentLong list of European victims
According to Pentagon data, the United States had around 36,400 soldiers in Germany at the end of 2025. Trump had already threatened in his first term to withdraw 12,000 soldiers from Germany, in a standoff with then-Chancellor Angela Merkel over her meager military spending, but he did not have time to do so before handing over power to Joe Biden.
Merz, in power since May 2025, has been considered a convinced Atlanticist for years, but, with Trump's return to the White House last year, he has advocated for a Europe more independent of Washington, capable of ensuring its own defense. The Chancellor has opted for the rearmament of Germany, in the face of the Russian threat and the fact that the United States, with Trump, seems an increasingly unreliable partner. Merz wants to turn the Bundeswehr, the German army, into the strongest conventional armed forces in Europe.
Merz has become Trump's latest victim, who has harshly criticized other European heads of state and government for not wanting to participate in the war against Iran, especially the Spanish president Pedro Sánchez.
Merz's visit to the White House last March generated controversy and surprise due to his silence in the face of Trump's criticism of Spain and the United Kingdom, European allies. While Trump criticized Sánchez for his "no to war" and threatened Spain with trade sanctions, the Chancellor did not defend him and even agreed with the US president in demanding greater military spending from Madrid. Merz's attitude caused one of the coldest moments in years in relations between Berlin and Madrid. The Chancellor is now experiencing firsthand what it means to dare to criticize Trump.