According to a report by Al Jazeera on May 9, 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said European nations remain committed to preserving the NATO alliance despite rising disagreements with US President Donald Trump over the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The divisions have become more visible after Germany and several other European countries declined to back the military actions carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Merz made the remarks during a joint news conference alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, where both leaders addressed concerns about the growing strain between Europe and Washington. European governments have expressed caution about escalating the conflict further, while also stressing the importance of maintaining unity among NATO members during a period of heightened global tension.
“We are really willing to keep this alliance alive for the future,” Merz said at the briefing. He acknowledged that disagreements exist between the transatlantic partners but insisted that cooperation remains essential in dealing with security threats and diplomatic challenges connected to Iran and the wider Middle East.
“We know that there are some differences. We know that we are seeing challenges, all of us, but our final goal is to bring this conflict to an end and to guarantee that Iran is not able to produce nuclear weapons,” Merz said.
The German leader also emphasized that Europe and the United States continue to share the same long-term objective regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, despite their contrasting positions on military involvement.
“And this goal is a common goal between America and Europe.”….Read_More…