German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a television interview in his country that "the United States is the most important partner for us in NATO (the North Atlantic Alliance)," after the Pentagon announced it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. Overnight, US President Donald Trump claimed the number would be even higher. Merz was asked by ARD channel whether the decision to withdraw the forces was related to the conflict between him and Trump, after he criticized the American president and claimed he entered a war with Iran "without a strategy." Merz replied: "There is no connection."