Merz also said he did not see what exit \u200bstrategy the US was pursuing in the Iran war \u2014 comments that underlined deep divisions between Washington and its European NATO allies, which \u200bhad already been festering over Ukraine and other issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Americans obviously have no strategy. And the problem with such conflicts is always that you not only have to get in, you also have to get out again,\u201d Merz said.<\/p>\n
He reiterated that Germans and Europeans were not consulted before the US and Israel started attacking Iran on February 28, and that he had conveyed his skepticism directly to Trump afterwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I had known that it would continue like this for five or six weeks and get progressively worse, I would have told him even more emphatically,\u201d Merz said, comparing it to previous US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. \u201cSo this whole thing is, as I said, at the very least ill-considered.\u201d<\/p>\n
The German chancellor said it was evident the Strait of Hormuz had been at least partially mined. \u201cWe have offered, also as Europeans, to send German minesweepers to clear the strait, which has obviously been mined in part,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the conflict was costing Germany \u201ca lot of money, a lot of taxpayers\u2019 money and a lot of economic strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
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