Merz says Europe wants a strong NATO and shares US goal of ending Iran war

(Reuters/Al Arabiya) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday Europe wanted to work to keep the NATO alliance functioning, despite differences with the United States that the Iran war has exposed. Tensions between US President Donald Trump’s administration and European NATO partners have raised questions about the future of NATO. Already high after US criticism of Europe over defense spending and issues like immigration policy, the tensions have increased after Germany and other European countries refused to support the US and Israeli war against Iran that began at the end of February. – Merz says Europe wants a strong NATO and shares US goal of ending Iran war