Merz Says His Row With Trump Over Iran Isn't Linked to Troop Cuts

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there was no link between his dispute with President Donald Trump over Iran and Washington's decision to reduce U.S. troop levels in Germany, dismissing suggestions the drawdown was political retaliation.

Merz made the remarks in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD on Sunday, responding to questions after the United States announced last week it would cut its military presence in Germany by about 5,000 troops.

On Saturday, Trump suggested the troop reductions would be even bigger. “We’re going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,” he told reporters.

Newsweek reached out to the White House and Pentagon on Sunday.

Why It Matters

Germany hosts the largest U.S. military presence in Europe, making any reduction significant for NATO operations and European security planning. U.S. bases in Germany serve as major command, logistics, and medical hubs for operations spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The troop reduction has added weight because it also effectively cancels a plan under the Biden administration to deploy a U.S. battalion equipped with long‑range Tomahawk missiles to Germany. Berlin had supported the deployment as a strong deterrent against Russia as it continues its war on Ukraine while European countries develop similar capabilities of their own.

By stressing the drawdown is unrelated to his criticism of U.S. policy toward Iran, Merz appeared intent on preventing further strain on transatlantic relations at a moment when divisions over the Iran war are already testing NATO unity.

What to Know

In the ARD interview, Merz said he accepted that Trump does not share his views on Iran but emphasized the importance of continued cooperation with Washington. "I have to accept that the American president has a different view on these issues than we do," he said, adding the U.S. remains a vital partner within NATO.

The chancellor had earlier questioned whether the Trump administration had a clear exit strategy from the Middle East conflict and said the country was being "humiliated" in talks with Iran.

“The Iranians are clearly stronger than expected, and the Americans clearly have no truly convincing strategy in the negotiations either,” Merz said Monday during a school visit in Marsberg, a town in his home region of Sauerland. “A whole nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.”

Those comments drew a sharp response from Trump, who called Merz an "ineffectual" leader and accused him of interfering in U.S. efforts against Iran.

Asked directly whether the planned troop reduction was connected to the spat between the two leaders, Merz said flatly, "There is no connection."

He also noted Trump had never formally committed to deploying Tomahawk missiles to Germany and suggested the U.S. was unlikely to part with such systems, arguing the Americans may not have enough of them themselves.

Trump has long argued for a smaller U.S. military footprint in Germany-first raising the issue during his initial term in office-and has repeatedly called on European allies to take greater responsibility for their own security.

But prominent members of Trump's own party have expressed alarm.

“We are very concerned by the ‌decision to withdraw a U.S. brigade from Germany,” Senator Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and Representative Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican, said in a joint statement on Saturday. The two lawmakers-leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services committees, respectively-warned that reducing U.S. forces in Europe would weaken collective deterrence and send the wrong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.

What Happens Next

The U.S. military drawdown is expected to proceed, with further details likely to emerge through Pentagon briefings and consultations with NATO allies.

Merz and other European leaders are expected to continue pressing the case for close transatlantic coordination as NATO discussions continue, even as disagreements over Iran and burden‑sharing remain unresolved.

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This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM.