Merz Denies Link to US 5,000-Troop Cut in Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sought to ease tensions with the United States on Sunday, denying any connection between his recent criticism of American strategy in the Iran conflict and Washington's announcement to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.

The Pentagon revealed the plan on Friday to reduce U.S. forces in Germany by about 14 percent, from roughly 35,000 to 36,000 service members, over the next 12 months. President Donald Trump indicated the cuts could exceed that figure, telling reporters in Florida, "We're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000." The move also halts a Biden administration plan to deploy a U.S. battalion equipped with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany, which Berlin had viewed as a key deterrent against Russia amid its war in Ukraine.

Merz's comments last week, made during a visit to a school in Marsberg, questioned whether the U.S. had a clear exit strategy from the Middle East and described the U.S. as being humiliated by Iranian leaders in negotiations. Trump responded sharply on social media, labeling Merz an ineffectual leader who "doesn't know what he's talking about" and announcing a review of troop...