Politics
Trump launches fresh attack on Merz after threatening US troop reduction in Germany – Europe live
Germany ‘prepared’ for discussions on US troops reduction, but major withdrawal ‘not up for discussion at all,’ minister says
Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul insisted that Germany was prepared for any decision from the US amid Donald Trump’s threats he could pull out some troops from the country and harsh criticism of the chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
Speaking during his visit to Morocco, he said in comments reported by AFP:
“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.”
Any such decisions would “be discussed with us and with others, as is proper among allies”, he said.
While saying he was “relaxed” about the idea of fewer US troops in Germany, Wadephul said that large American bases in Germany are “not up for discussion at all”.
He said for example that the Ramstein airbase had “an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike”.
In his helpful expainer, he answers key questions on how US soldiers ended up in Germany, just how many of them are there, and why they are important.
But he also crucially note that this is not the first time Trump makes similar comments about Germany; in fact, he has done it more than once before.
