For decades, the relationship between Germany and the United States has been a linchpin of transatlantic stability. Yet, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, shifting political winds in both Berlin and Washington have tested the strength of this historic alliance. Now, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the helm in Germany since May 2025 and Donald Trump returned to the White House, the two nations are navigating a new chapter—one marked by closer cooperation, but also by fresh dilemmas and old anxieties.
The improvement in German-American ties under Chancellor Merz has been striking, especially given the rocky rapport between Germany and the U.S. during President Trump’s earlier term. According to GIS Reports Online, the two leaders quickly established trust, aligning on core priorities: NATO, support for Ukraine, and defense spending. In June 2025, President Trump expressed satisfaction with decisions made at the NATO summit in The Hague, particularly regarding defense targets. Meanwhile, Chancellor Merz has been a vocal advocate for increasing Germany’s military budget, a move that not long ago would have been politically unthinkable in Berlin.
This renewed partnership has been visible on the world stage. On June 5, 2025, President Trump greeted Chancellor Merz at the White House—a symbolic gesture underscoring the thaw. Just a month later, Germany and the United Kingdom inked a mutual defense pact at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, signaling Berlin’s intent to reassert itself as a leader in European security. These moves, according to GIS Reports Online, are less about hedging against a possible American retreat and more about Germany reclaiming its Cold War-era role as a pillar of European defense.
Yet, for all the unity, there are still plenty of questions—and not just in Washington. In Germany, a heated debate is underway about how far the country should go in supporting Ukraine, especially when it comes to the sensitive question of sending German troops as part of a postwar peacekeeping mission. As The New York Times reports, Chancellor Merz has hinted at openness to such a deployment, but the idea remains deeply controversial. Germany’s military, after years of budget cuts and neglect, is being rebuilt with record spending, but both politicians and the public remain hesitant about boots on the ground, especially in Ukraine, where the legacy of World War II atrocities still casts a long shadow.
“Merz will not rule out sending German soldiers to Ukraine. That would not be peacekeeping, but a permanent escalation against Russia. We are clear: we will not send you to Ukraine!” declared the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on its main X channel, reflecting both the intensity of the debate and the party’s strong opposition to any such move. The AfD, which has close ties to Russia, is the largest opposition party in the Bundestag and has seized on the issue to stoke fears of military escalation.
Even within Chancellor Merz’s own Christian Democratic Union (CDU), there are misgivings. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Germany’s Table Today podcast in August 2025 that a deployment to Ukraine “would likely overwhelm” the German military, which is already stretched by deployments in Lithuania. Michael Kretschmer, the influential governor of Saxony, echoed these concerns in Der Spiegel, insisting that the armed forces “lack the necessary resources” to guarantee Ukraine’s security. It’s a sentiment shared by many Germans, who, despite broadly supporting the rebuilding of the military, remain reluctant to serve or see their country take on a more assertive military role abroad.
To address chronic recruitment shortfalls, the defense ministry is poised to introduce a watered-down draft. The plan, expected to pass a cabinet vote this week, would require 18-year-old men to complete a survey assessing their fitness to serve. The military would then try to persuade the most suitable to enlist, resorting to conscription only as a last resort. This cautious approach reflects the country’s ambivalence about military service, even as geopolitical realities demand a more robust defense posture.
On the diplomatic front, the U.S. has made it clear that Europeans must shoulder more of the burden for Ukraine’s security. After a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025, there was a brief surge of optimism for a peace deal. However, Vice President JD Vance told Fox News a week later, “The Europeans are going to have to take the lion’s share of the burden, it’s their continent, it’s their security.” The Trump administration has ruled out sending American soldiers as part of any postwar security force in Ukraine, putting the onus squarely on European allies.
For Chancellor Merz, this moment is fraught with both opportunity and risk. On one hand, it’s a chance to reestablish Germany as a leader on the continent and to forge a more independent European security policy. On the other, it means confronting domestic skepticism and the logistical challenges of a military still finding its footing. Merz has indicated that any decision to send troops abroad would require parliamentary approval—a high bar, given the contentiousness of the issue.
Meanwhile, the broader U.S.-German relationship continues to deepen in other areas. Chancellor Merz’s government has adopted tougher immigration policies and supported the recent U.S.-EU trade negotiations—moves that have found favor with the Trump administration. Berlin’s energy policies are also shifting in a pragmatic direction, and Germany’s support for Israel mirrors that of Washington. According to GIS Reports Online, both countries are looking to ramp up their defense-industrial cooperation, with Germany seeking to offset declines in its automotive sector by partnering with U.S. firms on military production.
Still, political frictions remain. Some American conservatives have openly backed right-wing populist parties in Europe, including the AfD in Germany, to the discomfort of centrist and center-right leaders like Merz. However, President Trump has signaled a willingness to work with European governments regardless of their political stripe, downplaying the significance of such interventions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently instructed diplomats not to comment on the fairness of European elections, aiming to reduce potential irritants in bilateral relations.
Looking ahead, several issues will test the resilience of this partnership. Chief among them is the outcome of the Pentagon’s force-posture review, expected by early autumn, which will have significant implications for German and European security. Both Berlin and Washington are also considering new initiatives in the Balkans, where skepticism about the future of the Dayton Accords is growing.
For now, the U.S.-German relationship remains solid, even as both sides grapple with the challenges of a changing world. The decisions made in the coming months—about military deployments, defense spending, and the shape of European security—will not only define the future of the alliance but could also reshape the balance of power on the continent for years to come.
