Friedrich Merz: the US and Germany are strong partners in NATO
Relations between the US and Germany have recently been strained. US President Trump and Federal Chancellor Merz spoke on the phone.
Berlin (dpa) – Following tensions in German-American relations, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump have spoken on the phone. Speaking on the platform X, Merz described the call with Trump – made whilst the latter was returning from China – as a positive one. “We are in agreement: Iran must now come to the negotiating table,” said Merz, adding that Iran had to open the Strait of Hormuz and must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
Merz went on to write that he and Trump had also discussed a peaceful solution for Ukraine and coordinated their positions ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, due to take place in July. “The US and Germany are strong partners in a strong NATO,” wrote Merz.
The war in Iran has recently placed an increasing strain on German-American relations. Merz previously said that the swift resolution to the Iran conflict initially sought by the US and Israel had not materialised, accusing the US of lacking a strategy. Prior to this, Trump had criticised Germany for failing to provide assistance in securing the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for oil trade. The Iran conflict is having economic consequences for Germany, too.
The US Department of Defence previously announced that it would withdraw around 5,000 of the approximately 39,000 US soldiers stationed in Germany.
