The chancellor emphasized the importance of the closed-door dialogue. “We of course talked in depth about the three big issues that currently concern us: the war in Ukraine, trade policy and the future of NATO,” Merz said, adding that Europe must now do more to meet its responsibilities.
The Oval Office meeting followed renewed anxiety in European capitals about Trump’s long-running criticism of NATO.
Since returning to office, Trump has called for alliance members to spend at least 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense — a goal that NATO leaders are expected to endorse at a summit in late June. Trump has suggested that Washington might not defend underspending allies.
The U.S. currently stations nearly 35,000 troops in Germany, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, making it the second-largest American military presence worldwide. The force plays a central role in NATO’s deterrence posture in Europe.
That historical dependence on U.S. military presence, Merz suggested, is no longer sustainable in a changed geopolitical landscape. “We’ve long been free riders on American security guarantees,” he said. “That is changing now.”
