German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the US military presence in Germany does not pose a warning signal for European security.
Speaking at a press briefing in Stockholm on May 9, held jointly with Sweden’s prime minister, Merz was asked about the risks to Europe following the withdrawal of around 5,000 US troops, Reuters reports.
Merz said the main issue was not troop numbers but "unity of purpose" and that it was in the US interest to have a strong European component of NATO.
"We are remaining interested and highly interested in having the American army and the American military support on our side," he noted. "So this is something we are having in common and we are trying to achieve that currently."
Merz added that NATO faces the same challenges both within Europe and beyond its borders, and expressed confidence in the alliance’s future.
By Jeyhun Aghazada
