Chancellor Friedrich Merz goes to Washington on Wednesday evening (4.06.2025) to meet US president Donald Trump on Thursday for the first time since taking office. According to government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius, a discussion was planned between both politicians in the White House, a joint lunch, and a later gathering with the press.
Trump will let Chancellor to stay at the President's guest house, Blair House, next to the White home – which is simply a peculiar honor. Talks in Washington will most likely focus on efforts to end the war in Ukraine, NATO's consequence to rising external threats and customs disputes between the US and the EU. Above all, however, it will be about whether both leaders can find a common language.
In constant contact
Merz and Trump have spoken on the telephone respective times in fresh weeks – erstwhile in two, and then 3 times in larger groups with respective another European Heads of State and Government on efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Merz presently has the U.S. President's cell telephone number and is exchanging text messages with him. Since the last telephone call, they've both called each another by their first name.
Number 1 Ukraine
Efforts to end the war in Ukraine will most likely be the most crucial goal. Merz took the initiative among Europeans, but has late been frustrated by the deficiency of progress. In Washington, D.C., he will search Trump to increase the force on Vladimir Putin to get him to suspend his arms. Europeans are preparing another package of sanctions to this end, while aware that they can only impress Putin together with the Americans.
Customs War
The U.S. customs dispute is besides highly ranked. However, the European Commission is negotiating on this issue. Merz will not go into detail, but as the head of Europe's economically strongest country, he can build trust and give impetus to action.
NATO Summit and Defence Expenditure
At the end of June NATO Heads of State and Government will meet in Brussels and will discuss, among another things, their defence spending.
Trump requested 5 percent of the gross home product from the alliance partners. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte responded with a compromise formula: 3.5 percent for the military and 1.5 percent for infrastructure specified as roads or ports that may be of importance for the defence. Merz supported the proposal.
Some controversy
In fresh weeks, the Chancellor has done a lot to show his willingness to cooperate with the US. However, he reacted with outrage on 1 issue. The attacks of U.S. Vice president JD Vance, who accused European allies of threatening democracy at the Munich safety Conference, considered "insensitive". He besides rejected criticism from the U.S. government about AfD's classification of the Constitution Protection Office as definitely right-right-extremist. It's our business. We decide this, not the American government," Friedrich Merz said. We'll see if that's what he's going to talk about in Washington.
Positive Attitude
However, the Chancellor is preparing intensively for the meeting. He sought advice from respective Heads of State and Government who had already visited Trump, including Volodymyr Zelenski, Cyril Ramaphosa, Gerogia Meloni, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr store and Finnish president Alexander Stubb.
Friedrich Merz definitely wants to enter the talks with a affirmative attitude: – We will gotta talk about common interests. There are differences, but there are besides many similarities, and that is what we will talk about," said ZDF on air.
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