President Trump announced on Wednesday evening that he is “studying and reviewing a possible reduction of troops in Germany”, in what appears to be retaliation for comments by Germany’s Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, that Iran has “insulted” the United States.
Before Mr. Merz made his remarks before a group of German students, the United States had signaled it might review its military levels in Europe, despite persistent concerns that Russian President Vladimir V. Putin might try to test whether NATO would actually come to the aid of one of its smaller, newer members, such as Estonia or Latvia.
Germany is the center of the US presence in Europe, where about 35,000 US troops are stationed. It is also a center for medical treatment, aircraft weapons and maintenance, and the headquarters for US forces in Europe. There are 12,000 U.S. troops in Italy, and about 10,000 in the United Kingdom, and all three have been key stations for forces and aircraft flying into the Middle East to support Operation Epic Fury, the attack launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Military commanders, already feeling the strain, are clear about the risks to the United States in cutting troops at key bases across Europe. But for Mr Trump, the decision may depend on his feelings about Mr Merz, a former investment banker who has developed a relationship with him – but who has become increasingly critical of a war he considers unwise and possibly illegal.
The explosion began when Mr Merz gave a speech at a high school assembly in western Germany. “The Americans clearly have no strategy,” he said, “and the problem with such conflicts is always that you don’t just have to get in, you have to get out again. We saw this very painfully in Afghanistan for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq as well.”
“So this situation, as I said, is at least non-negotiable, and I don’t see at the moment what strategic exit the Americans are choosing now.”
Germany, like other allies, was left out of the Trump administration’s discussions about going into Iran, and then showed no enthusiasm for joining the fight either individually or as part of NATO, the alliance created to contain the Soviet Union after World War II. Mr Trump reacted with fury, renewing suggestions that he was reconsidering America’s participation in the alliance, although he could not formally pull out without congressional approval.
He was particularly angered by Mr Meraz’s comments and accused him of favoring Iran. “German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thinks it’s OK for Iran to have nuclear weapons. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” Mr. Trump wrote in a Social media post. For good measure, he added: “No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both economically and otherwise!”
Mr. Trump did not say who was conducting the review, although he said a decision would be made “in the next little while.” Sometimes he moves on to other complaints without following through on his threats; Minutes after posting his threat to Germany, he attacked outgoing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell for saying he would remain in his post as a member of the Fed even if his time as chairman ends. But their anger at NATO, and their particular focus on Mr. Merz, makes it likely that some move will be taken to express their displeasure.
