Merz ‘not giving up on working with Trump’ despite Iran war spat

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German chancellor downplays US military drawbacks and president’s barbs in TV interview

The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has said he will not give up on working with the US president, Donald Trump, despite a spat between the leaders over the war in Iran.

“I am not giving up on working on the transatlantic relationship,” Merz told the public broadcaster ARD in an interview due to air on Sunday night. “Nor am I giving up on working with Donald Trump.”

Merz sought to downplay any tensions with Trump, arguing for instance that an abrupt public announcement that the US would pull 5,000 American troops from bases in Germany was not surprising and should not be seen as retaliation.

“It may be being exaggerated a bit, but it’s not new,” Merz told the talkshow host Caren Miosga.

Criticism of the US-Israeli war against Iran from Merz and other European leaders has clearly aggravated Trump. The latest rift came after Merz said on 27 April that Iran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.

That provoked a series of angry responses from Washington, including Trump’s comments that Merz was doing a “terrible” job as chancellor.

Merz on Sunday said the US decision on troops had “no connection” with the recent disagreements.

The chancellor also appeared to confirm that a planned deployment of US long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany – announced by the former US president Joe Biden – was being called off, at least for the time being.

He cited depleted arsenals because of the wars in Iran and Ukraine as the reason.

“The Americans themselves don’t have enough at the moment,” he said.

“Objectively speaking, there is hardly any possibility from the US of relinquishing weapons systems of this kind.”

But he said the “train has not departed” for possible cooperation in the future, and that European Nato powers could continue deterring Russia without those particular missiles or US forces.

Trump’s criticism of European leaders has not been confined to Merz.

He previously ridiculed the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and on Thursday told reporters that “Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible”.

But Merz said he still shared Trump’s goal of ensuring Iran never obtains an atomic weapon, even if he has criticised the US handling of the conflict.

“We have a different view of this war. That’s no secret,” Merz said in the interview. “I’m not the only one who feels that way.”

Merz said that Trump respects his right to hold differing views – though perhaps “a little less for the moment”.

“But that does not alter the fact that I remain convinced that the Americans are important partners for us – our most important partners in the North Atlantic alliance,” Merz said.

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