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Germany’s Merz Defends US Military Bases Access
(MENAFN) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz moved Thursday to quash mounting speculation over the future of American military presence in Germany, firmly ruling out any restrictions on US forces' access to bases on German soil while sounding the alarm over deepening transatlantic fractures triggered by the Iran conflict.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Merz revealed he had addressed the issue directly during a recent phone call with US President Donald Trump, emphasizing the imperative of maintaining NATO cohesion despite bilateral disagreements over the war.
"We discussed neither a withdrawal nor a restriction of the use of the military infrastructure maintained by the US forces in Germany," he told reporters. "Stationing agreements are in place, and the German government has no reason to question whether US forces have operated within those agreements in recent weeks."
He further disclosed that Trump raised no proposal to redeploy American troops currently stationed in Germany.
The chancellor's remarks arrive against the backdrop of US media reports indicating that Washington is weighing the relocation of forces away from NATO allies deemed insufficiently cooperative during the Iran war. The Wall Street Journal reported the measure could serve as a direct penalty targeting allies seen as failing to align with US and Israeli interests.
The diplomatic strain has been palpable in recent weeks. Washington has leveled sharp criticism at several European partners — among them the UK, Spain, and France — over restrictions placed on military movements and the denial of overflight rights. Germany imposed no such constraints, yet Defense Minister Boris Pistorius drew fierce backlash from Washington after declaring, "This is not our war; we did not start it."
Merz was unambiguous about the stakes, framing NATO preservation as a personal and strategic priority.
"During our phone call yesterday, we also discussed the future of NATO," he said. "There is currently no substitute for this alliance, and I have a strong interest in preserving it and developing it further together with the American president."
"We want to ensure that this war, which has become a transatlantic stress test, does not further strain relations between the US and its European NATO partners," Merz added. "I do not want a split within NATO. NATO is a guarantor of our security, especially in Europe."
Trump, for his part, has made no effort to conceal his exasperation. In a Truth Social post following his Wednesday meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, he wrote: "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again."
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt echoed the sentiment, asserting that Trump believes NATO "was tested, and they failed" during the conflict. "It's quite sad that NATO turned its back on the American people over the course of the last six weeks," she said, "when it's the American people who have been funding their defense."
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Merz revealed he had addressed the issue directly during a recent phone call with US President Donald Trump, emphasizing the imperative of maintaining NATO cohesion despite bilateral disagreements over the war.
"We discussed neither a withdrawal nor a restriction of the use of the military infrastructure maintained by the US forces in Germany," he told reporters. "Stationing agreements are in place, and the German government has no reason to question whether US forces have operated within those agreements in recent weeks."
He further disclosed that Trump raised no proposal to redeploy American troops currently stationed in Germany.
The chancellor's remarks arrive against the backdrop of US media reports indicating that Washington is weighing the relocation of forces away from NATO allies deemed insufficiently cooperative during the Iran war. The Wall Street Journal reported the measure could serve as a direct penalty targeting allies seen as failing to align with US and Israeli interests.
The diplomatic strain has been palpable in recent weeks. Washington has leveled sharp criticism at several European partners — among them the UK, Spain, and France — over restrictions placed on military movements and the denial of overflight rights. Germany imposed no such constraints, yet Defense Minister Boris Pistorius drew fierce backlash from Washington after declaring, "This is not our war; we did not start it."
Merz was unambiguous about the stakes, framing NATO preservation as a personal and strategic priority.
"During our phone call yesterday, we also discussed the future of NATO," he said. "There is currently no substitute for this alliance, and I have a strong interest in preserving it and developing it further together with the American president."
"We want to ensure that this war, which has become a transatlantic stress test, does not further strain relations between the US and its European NATO partners," Merz added. "I do not want a split within NATO. NATO is a guarantor of our security, especially in Europe."
Trump, for his part, has made no effort to conceal his exasperation. In a Truth Social post following his Wednesday meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, he wrote: "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again."
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt echoed the sentiment, asserting that Trump believes NATO "was tested, and they failed" during the conflict. "It's quite sad that NATO turned its back on the American people over the course of the last six weeks," she said, "when it's the American people who have been funding their defense."
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