The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, has expressed confidence in the ongoing collaboration between NATO and the United States, despite recent announcements regarding troop withdrawals from Germany. Speaking at a press conference in Portugal, Merz emphasized that the focus should not solely be on troop numbers but rather on the unity of purpose within the alliance.
Merz stated, “We remain interested, and very much interested, in having the American army and military on our side. This is what unites us, and we are currently working to achieve this. We truly strive to preserve this alliance in the future.” His comments come in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany and halt the deployment of Tomahawk missiles.
“We remain interested, and very much interested, in having the American army and military on our side. This is what unites us, and we are currently working to achieve this,” Merz stated.
In addition to addressing NATO’s future, Merz highlighted Europe’s collective aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, despite not participating in the U.S.-led conflict against Iran. He noted, “We know there are some discrepancies. We know we all face challenges, but our ultimate goal is to resolve this conflict and ensure that Iran cannot produce nuclear weapons.”
On April 30, 2026, President Trump indicated that his administration was considering reducing the number of U.S. troops stationed in Germany amid tensions with Chancellor Merz over the situation in Iran. Following this, on May 1, Pentagon officials announced the relocation of 5,000 service members from Germany.
These changes will also impact the battalion of long-range missile systems that the previous administration had planned to deploy in Germany by the end of 2026. Germany serves as the central hub for U.S. military presence in Europe, hosting approximately 36,000 soldiers, with a total of 85,000 American troops stationed across Europe.
In May 2025, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that Washington intended to begin discussions with European allies regarding the reduction of American forces in Europe. Furthermore, on May 4, Merz confirmed that the U.S. would not deploy a battalion of Tomahawk missile troops in Germany.
Friedrich Merz has reaffirmed Germany's commitment to NATO and the importance of U.S. military presence in Europe amid planned troop reductions. He also addressed Europe's goal to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.