The German press is sounding the alarm: the US has not only announced the reduction of its forces in Germany, but also – as American newspapers claim – canceled the planned deployment of a medium-range missile system, an important element of deterring Russia. Newspapers warn of negative consequences for NATO.
“(US President) Donald Trump is using the military for personal revenge. He has no regard for the safety of European allies. And yet NATO needs the United States,” notes “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” and advises German Chancellor Friedrich Merz not to react to Trump's decision now, as it will lead to “a new escalation of the conflict.”
The newspaper's commentator admits that Merz's statements, in which he suggested that Iran had humiliated the US, “were not reasonable.” Trump takes revenge for this by destroying “with a jackhammer the foundations on which NATO stands, and thus the entire European security system”.
The German press is sounding the alarm: Trump's decisions weaken NATO
The North Atlantic Alliance “needs the USA” because its deterrent against Russia depends on the strength of the American army and the credibility of the American promise to use this army to defend Europe. The US President, who “like an offended, rebellious child on the playground, takes away his spatulas and molds because he is angry at another child”, undermines these rules – notes “SZ”.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin “does not need to make any effort to get closer to his goal of destroying NATO.” “Trump does the job for him.” – weakens the Alliance politically by “making it impossible for allies to be allies.” “No European government can, for internal reasons, allow itself to participate in its war without a plan and contrary to international law against Iran,” we read in “SZ.”
“An invitation to the Kremlin.” The press warns Chancellor Merz
According to the commentator, Germany is able to come to terms with the departure of several thousand American soldiers. Much more dangerous, in his opinion, are the information reported by the media that plans for a US artillery unit equipped with medium-range missiles and cruise missiles, which were to be deployed to Germany in the fall, have also been canceled. The project, agreed in 2024 by then-German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, was intended to be a “strong signal of deterrence to the Kremlin.”
“SZ” writes that the decision to suspend the planned deployment of this unit was made after Trump's telephone conversation with Putin. “If I were a pessimist, I would consider this an invitation to the Kremlin” – writes the newspaper's commentator in conclusion.
The weekly “Die Zeit” assessed that dependence on the USA was an “intolerable risk”. Germany should respond decisively to America, because “further attempts to alleviate (the situation – PAP) make no sense,” he argues.
German media on the withdrawal of US troops: Triple attack on Europe
The latest US decisions – the announcement of the withdrawal of soldiers, delays in arms deliveries to European allies and the increase in tariffs on cars imported from the European Union – are considered by the newspaper to be a “triple attack on the security and prosperity of Europe.”
According to Die Zeit, even Merz's more diplomatic behavior “would not have changed anything.” Previous The Berlin government's cautious course towards the US “ended in failure” – he writes, recalling that the goal of the current American administration is to weaken the EU and strengthen nationalist opposition to it.
According to the weekly, the decisive change in the US approach towards Europe is the cancellation of the deployment of medium-range deterrent weapons, such as Tomahawk missiles. This will create a serious gap in the European defense system and is a signal that the US is “withdrawing from the deterrence system in Europe,” he emphasizes.
“Allies are punished and opponents are fawned over,” writes Die Zeit, suggesting that the announcement of the decision after Trump's 90-minute conversation with Putin “is no coincidence.”
Trump's revenge backfires on the chancellor. A difficult test for Berlin
Die Zeit accuses the US of having fired over a thousand Patriot missiles and a thousand Tomahawk missiles, which are of key importance for European security and deterring Russia, in a “senseless war in the Middle East.” This proves the priorities in American security policy. After winning the elections, Merz announced increased independence from the US, the newspaper recalls, appealing to the chancellor to “get to work.”
“Tagesspiegel” is more critical of Merz. The Berlin daily recalls that immediately after the US and Israel attacked Iran, Merz showed understanding for this decision and emphasized common interests with these two countries.
Recently, however, the chancellor sharply criticized Trump, accusing him of lack of strategy and talking about the humiliation of the US by Iran. It is true that the regime in Tehran is in no danger of imminent collapse, and Trump's actions seem planless and helpless; But is this a sufficient reason to pursue the “zigzag policy”? Where was Merz's strategic foresight? – asks a commentator of “Tagesspiegel”, suggesting that in the current polemic with Trump, Merz is guided by internal policy motives.
Merz is under strong pressure, his priority is reforms of the social welfare system and the economy. The war in the Middle East is unpopular in Germany, and Trump is not liked, so showing understanding for Trump is perceived negatively in the country, he explains.
“Merz's attacks on Trump harm German interests,” says the daily. Trump looks at NATO with increasing contempt, and Germany and Europe are doomed to support from the US.
According to the newspaper, Merz is able to change the US position on reducing the number of US troops in Germany. The restraint he showed at the beginning of the war was more reasonable than the current vehemence with which he distances himself from the US president, he emphasizes.
The discussions taking place in Germany give the impression that opposing Trump and wishing him to fail is more important than pursuing German interests. “This virus has now also attacked the Chancellor. It's sad,” concludes “Tagesspiegel.”
Jacek Lepiarz (PAP)
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