Merz accepts Trump disagreement but denies rift linked to US troop drawdown

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he must accept that US President Donald Trump does not share his opinions to work with the United States within NATO but stressed there was no link between their rift and a planned troop drawdown. Merz dismissed suggestions that his criticism of US war planning in Iran had sparked Washington's Friday announcement that the US would reduce its military presence in Germany, its largest European base, by 5,000 soldiers, and repeated his commitment to the transatlantic alliance. Merz had questioned whether Trump had an exit plan for the Middle East and said the US was being "embarrassed" in talks with Iran. Trump later called Merz an "ineffectual" leader. "I have to accept that the American president has a different view on these issues than we do. But that does not change the fact that I remain convinced that the Americans are important partners for us," Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview set to be broadcast later on Sunday. Asked whether US plans to reduce its troop presence in Germany had anything to do with the spat between the two leaders, Merz said: "There is no connection". Trump called for a reduced US military presence in Germany already during his first term and has repeatedly called on Europeans to take greater responsibility for their own security.