Germany's Merz supports US alliance, calls Iran nuclear threat a shared concern amid Trump troop pullout.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed the importance of the US as a key NATO partner despite tensions with President Trump. Merz emphasized a shared goal that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, even as he questioned Trump's Iran war exit strategy. The rift deepened after Trump announced plans to withdraw over 5,000 US troops from Germany, following Merz's criticism of US handling of the Iran conflict. Merz denied that his criticism directly caused the troop withdrawal, while German automakers and tech firms face pressure amid new US tariffs on EU vehicles.