Trump, Merz discuss US-Israeli attacks on Iran

US President Donald Trump met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

During talks in the Oval Office, Trump thanked Merz for Germany’s support of the expanding US and Israeli military operations against Iran and also discussed trade issues and the war in Ukraine. Trump said Germany is “helping” by providing American forces access to certain bases, sharply contrasting this with the positions of the UK and Spain.

He emphasised that the US is not asking Germany to deploy troops, but merely to provide favourable conditions for American forces.

Merz stated that Germany and the US share the goal of changing Iran’s current regime, but he noted that military strikes carry risks and are unlikely to bring political change in the country. “This plan is not without risks, and we would also have to bear the consequences,” he stressed.

The chancellor emphasised that Germany has not been directly involved in military action, and any such steps would require approval from the German parliament.

Merz also raised the issues of the war in Ukraine and the need to finalise a trade agreement between the US and the EU, given Trump’s threats to impose new tariffs.

Trump highlighted good relations with Germany and personally with Merz, calling him an “excellent leader,” in contrast to previous disagreements with former Chancellor Angela Merkel on immigration and energy issues.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of strengthened German–French cooperation in nuclear deterrence, part of Europe’s adaptation to changing security dynamics in transatlantic relations amid Russian threats and instability caused by the Iranian conflict.