[Merz: Trump has no plans to withdraw from NATO]

Politico reported on June 6 that German Chancellor Merz stated, despite years of tension over defense spending and commitments within NATO, he is completely confident that the United States under President Trump's leadership will continue to remain in NATO.

Merz said at a Q&A event hosted by the Berlin Family Entrepreneurs Association: "I have no doubt about the U.S. government's commitment to NATO." These remarks were made the day after his first visit to Washington, where he met with Trump in the Oval Office.

Recalling private conversations with the U.S. President, Merz recalled: "The question at the time – and I summarize it here – was whether he had plans to withdraw from NATO, and he gave a very clear 'no.' There was no further comment on this, not even during lunch afterward."

Merz emphasized the importance of closed-door dialogues. "We naturally discussed the three major issues of current concern in depth: the war in Ukraine, trade policy, and the future of NATO," Merz added that Europe must now take on more responsibility for itself.

This meeting between Merz and Trump in the Oval Office took place amid renewed concerns among European countries about Trump's long-standing criticism of NATO.

Since returning to the presidency, Trump has been urging NATO member countries to allocate at least 5% of their GDP to defense – a target expected to be supported by NATO leaders at the summit in late June. Trump has hinted that the U.S. might not defend allies who do not meet sufficient defense spending levels.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. currently has nearly 35,000 troops stationed in Germany, making it the second-largest location for U.S. military forces globally. This force plays a core role in NATO's European deterrence system.

Merz stated that, given the changing geopolitical landscape, Europe's historical reliance on U.S. military presence is no longer sustainable. "For a long time, we have been free riders on American security guarantees," he said, "but this situation is now changing."

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834249410426892/

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