Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, FDP politician and current chairwoman of the European Parliament’s Defence Committee, advised caution regarding the recent announcements from Washington concerning the partial withdrawal of US troops from Germany and the cancellation of deploying US medium-range missiles. Drawing a contrast with the CDU’s Friedrich Merz, she urged greater prudence.
Speaking to the newspaper “Der Spiegel”, Strack-Zimmermann dismissed the Washington announcements, stating they should be taken seriously not because the troop withdrawal is militarily motivated, but because it appears to stem from a personal impulse of the US President-what she compared, in essence, to a gesture of disrespect toward CDU leader Merz.
While acknowledging that Europeans are making progress in compensating for US capabilities, she noted that more time was required. Furthermore, she strongly criticized the tendency of national interests to undermine broader European goals. Strack-Zimmermann argued that under Merz’s leadership, Germany still tends to focus disproportionately on itself rather than on the needs of the entire European Union.
Responding to how the German government should react to Washington’s latest moves, the EU Defence Committee chairwoman advised Merz that he should consider the potential consequences of his words before speaking publicly in the future. She also asserted that Germany must demonstrate a confident stance toward the United States. Most importantly, however, she reportedly urged him to deliver, stating that Germany now possesses sufficient financial resources and must fulfill its commitments.
This intervention comes after Friedrich Merz had previously criticized President Trump for his perceived lack of strategy during the war in Iran, criticism that reportedly caused considerable diplomatic strain within the White House.