Merz vows US cooperation despite Pentagon plan to cut 5,000 troops from Germany
Synopsis
Germany's Chancellor is walking a diplomatic tightrope: publicly criticising Washington's Iran strategy while simultaneously insisting the US remains Berlin's most vital NATO partner — even as Trump threatens to pull thousands of troops not just from Germany but across Europe.
Key Takeaways
Pentagon announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 US troops from Germany .
Chancellor Merz confirmed the Tomahawk cruise missile deployment to Germany is on hold, though he believes it is not permanently cancelled.
Trump signalled cuts could go "way down" beyond 5,000 and raised the prospect of reducing presence in Spain and Italy .
Merz insists the troop withdrawal is unrelated to his criticism of Trump's Iran policy and called the US Germany's most important NATO partner.
The Tomahawk systems were originally pledged by former President Joe Biden in 2024 to strengthen European deterrence.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 4 May pledged to maintain cooperation with the United States despite mounting verbal tensions with US President Donald Trump, even as the Pentagon announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 US troops from Germany. The troop reduction announcement came in the wake of Merz's public criticism of Washington's military posture toward Iran.
Background to the Dispute
The friction escalated after Merz described the United States as
Point of View
Spain, and Italy as apparent leverage over policy disagreements is a structural shift, not a negotiating tactic. Europe's defence debate has moved from 'should we spend more?' to 'can we afford to rely on Washington at all?' The Tomahawk episode is particularly telling: a Biden-era commitment evaporating under Trump signals that US security guarantees are now subject to political weather.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the US withdrawing troops from Germany?
The Pentagon announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 US troops from Germany, a move that coincided with public criticism by Chancellor Merz of US military strategy toward Iran. Trump has suggested the cuts could go further, framing the withdrawals within broader dissatisfaction with European NATO allies.
What did Merz say about US-Germany relations?
Merz said he would not give up on cooperation with the United States despite the tensions, describing the US as Germany's most important NATO partner. He also maintained that the troop withdrawal decision was unrelated to his earlier criticism of President Trump.
Will Tomahawk missiles still be deployed in Germany?
Merz confirmed the Tomahawk cruise missile deployment is on hold for now, but he believes the plan has not been permanently cancelled. The systems were originally pledged by former President Joe Biden in 2024 to strengthen European deterrence.
Is the US also cutting troops from Spain and Italy?
Trump raised the possibility of reducing US military presence in Spain and Italy as well, criticising both countries for what he described as insufficient support. No formal Pentagon announcement on those countries had been made at the time of reporting.
What triggered the Merz-Trump dispute?
The dispute was triggered by Merz's public description of the US as 'planless' in its Iran military engagement and 'humiliated by the Iranian leadership.' Trump responded by saying Merz 'doesn't know what he's talking about' and accused him of indifference to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
