Trump tells Germany’s Merz to focus on Ukraine war, not Iran

Washington: United States President Donald Trump on Thursday criticised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying the German leader should concentrate on efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and spend less time, in Trump’s words, interfering in moves aimed at addressing what he called the Iran nuclear threat.

Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social amid an ongoing public dispute with Merz over the war involving Iran. The latest exchange followed comments by Merz earlier this week in which he said Iran was humiliating Washington during negotiations aimed at ending the two-month-old conflict.

The chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken country, especially immigration and energy, and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran nuclear threat, thereby making the world, including Germany, a safer place!

Trump and Merz have traded criticism in recent days. On Tuesday, Trump said Merz did not know what he was talking about after the German chancellor’s remarks on the talks with Iran. Trump also said that Merz thinks it is acceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

He doesn't know what he's talking about!

The dispute has unfolded alongside renewed discussion over the future of the American military presence in Germany. Earlier on Thursday, Germany said it was prepared for a possible reduction in US troops, while also underlining the importance of maintaining a dependable transatlantic partnership.

Trump had said on Wednesday that Washington was considering redeploying some of the tens of thousands of US troops stationed in Germany as tensions with Merz escalated over the Iran war.

Speaking during a visit to Morocco, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin was ready for such a possibility and was discussing the matter closely within NATO.

We are prepared for that, we are discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies, and we are expecting decisions from the Americans about this.

Wadephul said any decision of that kind would be discussed with Germany and other allies, as is proper among partners. He also said the possibility of a US troop reduction was not a new message and noted that previous American presidents had also raised the prospect.

While saying he was relaxed about the idea of fewer US troops in Germany, Wadephul added that major American bases in the country were not under discussion. He said Ramstein Air Base, for example, had an irreplaceable role for both the United States and Germany.

Merz, for his part, said Germany’s position on the war in the Middle East remained guided by a united NATO and a reliable transatlantic partnership. Without directly referring to Trump’s threat, he said Berlin was in close and trusting contact with its partners, including and especially Washington.

We are doing this in our shared transatlantic interest. We are doing it with mutual respect and a fair sharing of burdens.

This transatlantic partnership is particularly close to our hearts — both to us as a whole and to me personally, as you know.

The latest comments mark a further deterioration in exchanges between Washington and Berlin over Iran, while also bringing the issue of US troop deployments in Germany back into focus.