Germany is reportedly in talks with the US to provide military aircraft to patrol a safe zone in northern Syria proposed by Donald Trump.

Angela Merkel’s government has been in secret talks the US over the plans for several months, according to Spiegel magazine.

The proposals could see German Tornado fighters patrolling Syrian air space to protect the country’s Kurds from attack by Isil or Turkey.

The planned force is seen as an opportunity for the US and Germany to find common ground. The two countries have been increasingly at odds during President Trump’s tenure, particularly over military cooperation.

But the proposed German involvement could be scuppered by opposition from Mrs Merkel’s coalition partners, the centre-Left Social Democrats (SPD).

Mr Trump proposed a safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border in a tweet earlier this year in order to protect the US’ Kurdish allies from attack.

Last year he ordered US troops to begin withdrawing from northern Syria, arguing Isil is all but defeated.

But the planned withdrawal has come under heavy criticism, with opponents arguing it will leave the US’ Kurdish allies at the mercy of Turkish forces.