{"text":[[{"start":7.15,"text":"Donald Trump has said the US would examine whether to reduce troops in Germany, in comments underlining how the Iran war is straining transatlantic relations."}],[{"start":17.3,"text":"“The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” the US president wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday night."}],[{"start":30.65,"text":"The review comes days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the US-Israel war on Iran as badly prepared and humiliating for Washington. Merz said on Monday that Washington “quite obviously went into this war without any strategy” and had “no truly convincing strategy in the negotiations either”. "}],[{"start":49.5,"text":"The Iranians were “negotiating very skilfully — or simply very skilfully not negotiating”. He added: “A whole nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.” "}],[{"start":58.95,"text":"The criticism from Merz, a staunch Atlanticist, is a sign of growing frustration in Europe over the economic impact of the Middle East conflict, which has sparked a rise in energy prices and hurt European economies, particularly Germany. The German government has halved its growth forecast for this year because of the war."}],[{"start":78.75,"text":"It is not the first time Trump has threatened to reduce troops in Europe or Germany, which hosts the largest number of them on the continent. During his first term, his administration announced plans to withdraw 12,000 troops from the country — a move later blocked by Congress. "}],[{"start":95.7,"text":"European officials now await the Pentagon’s so-called Global Posture Review, which will determine the future for the 80,000 American soldiers stationed across Europe, about 37,500 of them in Germany."}],[{"start":109.15,"text":"The Ramstein air base in southern Germany is the largest outside the US and a critical hub for US military operations in the Middle East."}],[{"start":117,"text":"The relations between Berlin and Washington have been turbulent since the return of Trump to the White House. But Merz has made great efforts to try to establish a rapport with Trump, travelling twice to Washington to meet him. "}],[{"start":129.8,"text":"Merz has sought to prevent any significant reduction in the US military presence before the continent manages to rebuild its defence capabilities. "}],[{"start":138.05,"text":"Berlin, which has heavily relied on Washington for its security as part of Nato after the second world war, is only just starting to upgrade its armed forces. It intends to spend more than €750bn by 2030 after years of under-investment. "}],[{"start":161.75000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1777540580_7191.mp3"}