Merz Says His Row With Trump Over Iran Isn’t Linked to Troop Cuts

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there was no link between his dispute with President Donald Trump over Iran and Washington’s decision to reduce U.S. troop levels in Germany, dismissing suggestions the drawdown was political retaliation.Merz made the remarks in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD on Sunday, responding to questions after the United States announced last week it would cut its military presence in Germany by about 5,000 troops.On Saturday, Trump suggested the troop reductions would be even bigger. "We're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000," he told reporters.Newsweek reached out to the White House and Pentagon on Sunday.Why It MattersGermany hosts the largest U.S. military presence in Europe, making any reduction significant for NATO operations and European security planning. U.S. bases in Germany serve as major command, logistics, and medical hubs for operations spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.The troop reduction has added weight because it also effectively cancels a plan under the Biden administration to deploy a U.S. battalion equipped with long‑range Tomahawk missiles to Germany. Berlin had supported the deployment as a strong deterrent against Russia as it continues its war on Ukraine while European countries develop similar