"In these particularly turbulent times, we are following a clear compass," Merz said during a visit to an army training ground in northern Germany.

"This compass remains oriented toward a united NATO and a reliable transatlantic partnership."

Merz did not directly address a threat made Wednesday by Trump to redeploy some of the tens of thousands of US troops stationed in Germany.

But he did say Berlin was "in close and trusting contact with our partners, including and especially in Washington" over the fallout from the war in the Middle East.

"We are doing this in our shared transatlantic interest. We are doing it with mutual respect and a fair sharing of burdens," he added.

"This transatlantic partnership is particularly close to our hearts -- both to us as a whole and to me personally, as you know."

Merz became a target of Trump's ire after saying earlier this week that Iran was "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table.

Trump said on Tuesday that Merz "thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn't know what he's talking about!"

Then on Wednesday, in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States was considering reducing the number of its troops in Germany.