But by suggesting that the Trump administration had been \u201chumiliated\u201d by the Iranians, the chancellor may have gone too far \u2014 risking a rupture with a president known for his vindictive streak.<\/p>\n
While the stakes are potentially extremely high for Germany, political leaders remained relatively sanguine, noting that the U.S. needs its military presence in Germany for its own operations. Despite Trump\u2019s attacks on Merz, many argue, military cooperation on the ground remains close and deeply integrated, and a rapid American drawdown is unrealistic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the first time we\u2019ve been confronted with such threats,\u201d said Christoph Schmid, a leading defense policy lawmaker for Merz\u2019s center-left coalition partners in the Social Democratic Party. \u201cA withdrawal is, in the short term, simply not feasible. And in the medium to long term, it would weaken the operational capabilities of the U.S. military worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n
During his first term Trump announced plans to withdraw 9,500 American troops from bases in Germany. But with less than one year left in his presidency, he ran out of time to deliver, and his successor, U.S. President Joe Biden, moved to stop the initiative.<\/p>\n
Trump now has three years to deliver on any new potential withdrawal plan. But for Merz the greater danger may be the loss of Trump\u2019s ear, particularly when it comes to support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n
In the interim, Merz appears intent on getting back on Trump\u2019s good side.<\/p>\n