BERLIN – German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz shared on Friday that he engaged in a discussion with the US administration, following a meeting with President Trump the previous day at the White House, and he feels confident about Washington’s commitment to NATO.
During his Oval Office visit, Merz described his lunch with Trump as both thoughtful and candid, noting they didn’t quite see eye to eye on the situation in Ukraine.
“In our meeting yesterday, I expressed a distinctly different stance on Ukraine compared to Trump’s. There was no disagreement, and we revisited the topic during lunch,” he mentioned.
This marked the first in-person encounter between the two leaders. Since taking office in May, Merz has deftly avoided the kinds of conflicts that have arisen with other world leaders, like Ukraine’s Zelensky and South Africa’s Ramaphosa.
Their meeting started on a positive note, with Merz gifting Trump a framed golden birth certificate from his grandfather, Friedrich Trump, who immigrated from Germany.
Trump remarked that Merz is “a very good person to deal with,” expressing that the American administration is open to different perspectives and ready for dialogue.
He also emphasized the necessity for conversations to flow in both directions.
Merz later met with senators on Capitol Hill, stressing the significant threat posed by Russian rearmament.
“Look at how far along Russia’s military advancements are. It’s clear you may not grasp the full extent of it,” he stated. “You can engage in dialogue, but you shouldn’t feel threatened. That’s not really what you should aim for,” he added.
Fluent in English, Merz underscored the importance of fostering transatlantic trust and reiterated the value of having allies.
“Whether we like it or not, we’ll continue to depend on the United States for a long time. However, a global partner is also necessary, and Europeans—particularly Germans—are perhaps the best partners,” he noted.
“This highlights the contrast between authoritarian regimes and democracies. Authoritarian systems have subordinates; democracies build partnerships. We aspire to be partners with both Europe and America,” he articulated.
Merz reaffirmed that the US remains dedicated to NATO, especially as Germany and other nations increase their defense spending. Trump has previously hinted that the US might reconsider its alliance commitments if member states fail to meet defense spending goals.
“There’s no doubt about the US government’s commitment to NATO, and we’ve clearly indicated that we’re stepping up our efforts. We’re ensuring our own protection in Europe too,” he explained.
“We’ve been beneficiaries of America’s security guarantees for years, and that’s changing now.”
