Germany sees to keep Washington close
That uncertainty is exactly what Pistorius is testing to prevent from turning into a crisis. “It’s about coordinating how we implement such a decision, if and when it comes,” he declared in Washington, “so that no dangerous capability gaps emerge if the Americans withdraw something we can’t replace quickly.”
That concern has already prompted Germany to step up quiet diplomatic outreach. Officials in Berlin have pushed for a phased, transparent approach, emphasizing the countest’s growing military investment and its readiness to host American forces.
In June, Germany announced plans to boost defense spfinishing from approximately €86 billion in 2025 to around €153 billion by 2029 — raising it to roughly 3.5 percent of GDP to meet NATO tarobtains and support shared infrastructure commitments.
According to Matlé, the effort is deliberate — and, so far, moderately successful. “The German government clearly sought to reestablish a close alignment with the U.S. early on,” she declared, pointing to a coordinated push by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Pistorius and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Merz, who phoned Trump in early July to secure weapons deliveries to Ukraine, was successful in his attempt to stay in Washington’s good graces.
When he met Trump during his debut trip to Washington as chancellor, the issue of U.S. troop presence was raised during a press appearance in the Oval Office. Asked whether reductions were on the table, Trump declared: “I’ve always declared Europe requireds to do more, but Germany has been stepping up. We’ll see at what builds sense going forward.”
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