German chancellor downplays row with Trump after troop drawdown announced
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- US announces reduction of 5,000 troops in Germany, returning to pre‑Ukraine war levels on May 1.
- Merz says the troop drawdown is unrelated to his dispute with Trump and reaffirms commitment to NATO.
- Trump labels Merz "ineffectual" after Merz criticizes US war planning in Iran.
- Biden's plan to deploy a US battalion with long‑range Tomahawk missiles to Germany is cancelled.
- Tomahawk missiles are in short supply for US forces, Merz says.
Why it matters: Germany loses 5,000 US troops and a planned Tomahawk missile battalion, weakening its deterrence against Russia and forcing European defense spending to rise, while the US cuts overseas costs.
