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In the last half hour, Merz gave a brief press statement after his visit to the German army in Munster, in which he called for “a reliable transatlantic partnership” – without offering a direct response to Trump’s comments overnight.
But indirectly there was a lot there that will be read as his indirect response, as he repeatedly stressed the importance of the partnership with the US, of Nato, and of common transatlantic goals.
Merz talked at length about the task of reforming the Bundeswehr to be ready to “fight tonight,” and “prepare for the challenges of tomorrow and the day after.”
He repeatedly and pointedly stressed Germany’s commitment to “a strong, united Nato,” and noted joint work conducted with the US and other Nato allies. A senior US Armed Forces commander was in Muster just yesterday, he noted.
On Iran, he struck a notably different tone than earlier this week (10:01, 10:18), putting the pressure solely on the regime, and saying it “must come to the negotiating table” and “must no longer take the region and ultimately the world hostage” to its interests.
On Iran, he said, Germany worked “in close contact with our partners,” including – again, specifically singed out – Washington and the US.
“We do this in our common transatlantic interest, with mutual respect and fair burden sharing,” he said.
He added that the German position was aligned with the focus on “a strong Nato and a reliable transatlantic partnership,” which he stressed was “particularly close to my heart.”