On 27/4, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asserted that the United States lacked a clear strategy in its coordinated attack with Israel on Iran. He also assessed that Tehran was outmaneuvering Washington in subsequent negotiation efforts.
"An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, particularly by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. I hope this will end soon", he stated.
These were the sharpest comments on the Iran conflict made by Chancellor Merz, who had repeatedly tried to appease US President Donald Trump in recent months to avoid fracturing NATO unity.
Earlier this april, Trump had angered European allies, including Germany, by describing NATO as a "paper tiger" and stating he was seriously considering withdrawing the US from the alliance because they did not participate in the Middle East conflict.
The Telegraph then reported that Trump was considering a NATO overhaul to penalize members who failed to meet his demands for increased defense spending. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the White House leader was also reviewing the withdrawal of US troops from Germany, a move he had raised since returning to power last year.
Against this backdrop, Chancellor Merz's statement was seen as "the last straw", according to Sam Kiley, an international affairs commentator for Independent.
Outraged by the criticism, Trump acted on his threat to reduce the number of troops stationed in Germany. On 1/5, the White House announced that the US would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. He also warned that the US might reduce troops stationed in Italy and Spain, countries he criticized for not joining efforts to "eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat".
"Look, why shouldn't I do that? Italy doesn't help us at all, and Spain is terrible", Trump said.
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US President Donald Trump (right) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House in march. Photo: AFP |
US President Donald Trump (right) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House in march. Photo: AFP
On 2/5, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the US troop reduction demonstrated Europe's need to assume greater responsibility for its own security. He added that "Germany is on the right track" by expanding its armed forces, rapidly acquiring equipment on a larger scale, and developing infrastructure.
According to Pistorius, nearly 40,000 US troops are stationed in Germany. "The presence of US troops in Europe, especially in Germany, serves our interests and those of the US. However, a US troop withdrawal from Europe, including Germany, was predictable", he noted.
While diplomatic exchanges continued, NATO was still preparing to conduct the multinational "Sword 26" exercise in Europe, involving 5,000 US troops and 10,000 personnel from allied nations, drilling from the Baltic to the Black Sea. It remains unclear how Trump's withdrawal decision will impact the exercise.
US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, Commander of NATO in Europe, told the US Senate Armed Services Committee in march that key bases in Europe preserve the President's military options during a crisis and enable rapid deployment and sustainment of combat-ready forces.
"We need NATO", General Grynkewich emphasized.
However, Trump did not consult NATO allies before attacking Iran with Israel, but became angry when they refused to join the conflict or send warships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Chancellor Merz and other European leaders have repeatedly stated that NATO is a defensive alliance, where members protect each other when attacked, not an organization that attacks other countries. However, this distinction seemed to be disregarded by Trump and his cabinet.
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US soldiers stand by a barbed wire fence during an exercise at a US army training facility in Hohenfels, Germany on 30/4. Photo: Reuters |
US soldiers stand by a barbed wire fence during an exercise at a US army training facility in Hohenfels, Germany on 30/4. Photo: Reuters
The US plays a vital role in Europe's defense system. US bases in Europe also serve as platforms for Washington to project global military power. European countries were hesitant about the Iran campaign, but that is not the only theater where the US military is or could operate.
"Constantly attacking NATO allies is counterproductive and harmful to Americans", Republican Representative Don Bacon posted on X, emphasizing that two large air bases in Germany enable the US to rapidly deploy forces to three continents. "We are shooting ourselves in the foot".
The US conducts military operations in Africa from European bases and has previously carried out campaigns in Libya, Iraq, and Syria from there. Deploying US troops to the unstable Sahel region of North Africa would be nearly impossible without the NATO base network.
Currently, 90,000 US troops are stationed in Europe, mainly concentrated in Germany. This is home to the headquarters of the US European Command (USEUCOM), one of the country's premier medical treatment centers, and numerous maintenance facilities and weapon depots for the US Air Force.
The US Navy's 6th Fleet is based in Naples, Italy, with nearly 13,000 personnel. Approximately 3,800 troops are stationed in Spain, a gateway for operations in Europe and beyond.
Trump once threatened to "expel" Spain from NATO, which is beyond his authority, and undermined Britain's stance on the Falkland Islands. Before launching the Iran conflict, he had also repeatedly expressed intentions to control Greenland, a NATO member country belonging to Denmark, and harbored similar ambitions for Canada.
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Ramstein air base of the US in Germany. Photo: US Air Force |
Ramstein air base of the US in Germany. Photo: US Air Force
The US President does not always follow through on his threats. Critics describe him as "always backing down at the last minute", while the White House leader claims his unpredictability is an advantage when dealing with countries like Iran.
Chancellor Merz and some leaders are adopting a firmer stance with Trump, while countries like Britain use "soft power", even through King Charles III, to temper the US President's controversial statements. The challenge, however, is that Trump often directs his harshest criticisms at allies, while rarely attacking adversaries. Western leaders continue their efforts to make him listen more, according to commentator Kiley.
Huyen Le (According to Independent, Reuters)
