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Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump, Germany's Merz build ties in friendly meeting on Ukraine and trade
FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a speech at the German Association of Towns and Municipalities event in Berlin, Germany, June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presents the framed birth certificate of U.S. President Donald Trump's grandfather during a meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attends a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump meets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz bonded during an amicable White House meeting on Thursday with talks about Ukraine, trade, and troops but none of the fireworks that characterized other Oval Office visits by foreign leaders. Trump described Merz as a good representative of Germany and also "difficult," describing that as a compliment. He said U.S. forces would remain in Germany and said he welcomed Berlin's commitment to boost its spending on defense. Merz, who was aiming for a meeting that did not explode negatively as others have, described the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline project from Russia to Germany that Trump opposed as a mistake, and said Germany was ready to deepen ties with the United States. The two leaders met in the Oval Office, which has been the site of showdowns between Trump and visiting dignitaries including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Not so on Thursday. Trump and Merz, both conservatives, appeared to have a warm rapport from the start. Merz started with praise, thanking Trump for putting him up in the Blair House, a presidential guest dwelling across from the White House, and Trump thanked him for doing so. Merz also expressed appreciation for U.S. liberation of Germany from Nazi rule. But tensions over trade simmered beneath the surface. The United States and the European Union are in talks to reach a trade deal, which would be critical for Germany's export-heavy economy, but Trump said he would be fine with an agreement or with tariffs. "We'll end up hopefully with a trade deal," Trump said. "I'm ok with the tariffs or we make a deal with the trade." Merz, who took office last month, told reporters ahead of the meeting that he was not expecting major breakthroughs on tariffs, NATO or the war in Ukraine. Afterwards, he said he was "extremely satisfied" with how things went. "I've found in the American president someone I can speak with very well on a personal level," he said, adding Trump was visibly moved to receive a gift copy of his grandfather Friedrich Trump's German birth certificate from 1869. "We had a really good discussion and I think we were able to build a durable personal relationship," Merz told Germany's RTL television station. He told reporters that Trump accepted his invitation to visit Germany and would now work out a date. Trump has urged NATO countries to spend more on defence, though he suggested there might be some limits on how far Berlin should go given its World War Two past. He also assuaged fears that he might seek to move U.S. troops out of Germany, which holds multiple bases and is something he threatened to do during his first term. "The answer is yes," Trump said, when asked if he would leave U.S. troops in Germany. "We'll talk about that. But if they'd like to have them there, yeah." TENSIONS UNDERNEATH The meeting comes amid a broader fraying of ties between the U.S. and many European countries. Trump's administration has intervened in domestic European politics in a break with past practice, aligning with right-wing political movements and challenging European policies on immigration and free speech. Merz, 69, and his entourage sought coaching from other leaders on how to deal with Trump to avoid conflict, according to a source briefed on the matter. The two leaders will meet again this month during a Group of Seven summit in Canada and then at a summit of the NATO Western military alliance, which has been strained by Trump's threats that the U.S. will not come to the aid of allies that do not increase their defence spending. Such threats are of particular concern to Germany, which has relied on U.S. nuclear deterrence for its security since the end of World War Two. Merz has backed Trump's demand for NATO members to commit to a target of more than doubling defence spending to 5% of economic output in the future, earning praise last weekend from U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Merz, who has promised a more assertive foreign policy, also coordinated a visit by European leaders to Kyiv just days after taking office, two European diplomat sources said. The meeting could have been a sour one. Merz was publicly critical of Trump shortly before the 2024 presidential election and, on the evening of his own party's election victory in February, criticized the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the campaign. Jeff Rathke, a former U.S. diplomat and president of the American-German Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said it was notable that Trump did not seize on their differences. "None of this means that it will be smooth sailing for the next 3-1/2 years together, but it's about the best possible start to the relationship at the leadership level," Rathke said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump, Germany's Merz kick off friendly meeting with talks on Ukraine and trade
FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a speech at the German Association of Towns and Municipalities event in Berlin, Germany, June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz kicked off a White House meeting on Thursday with talks on Ukraine and trade but none of the fireworks that have characterized other Oval Office meetings with foreign leaders. Trump described Merz as a good representative of Germany and also "difficult," which he suggested was a compliment. He said U.S. troops would remain in Germany and said it was positive that Berlin was spending more money on defence. Merz said he was pleased to be there and preparing for a deeper relationship with the United States. The two leaders met in the Oval Office, which has been the site of showdowns between Trump and visiting dignitaries including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Not so on Thursday. Trump and Merz, both conservatives, appeared to have a warm rapport from the start. Merz started with praise, thanking Trump for putting him up in the Blair House, a presidential guest dwelling across from the White House, and Trump thanked him for doing so. But tensions over trade simmered under the surface of their encounter. The United States and the European Union are in talks to reach a trade deal, which would be critical for Germany's export-heavy economy, but Trump said he would be fine with an agreement or with tariffs. "We'll end up hopefully with a trade deal," Trump said. "I'm ok with the tariffs or we make a deal with the trade." Merz, who took office last month, told reporters ahead of the meeting that they would discuss Russia's war in Ukraine, U.S. tariffs and NATO in the meeting but said he was not expecting major breakthroughs. Germany is the second largest military and financial backer of Ukraine in its defence against Russia's invasion, after the United States. Trump has urged NATO countries to spend more on defence, though he suggested there might be some limits on how far Berlin should go given its World War II past. TENSIONS UNDERNEATH The meeting comes amid a broader fraying of ties between the U.S. and many European countries. Trump's administration has intervened in domestic European politics in a break with past practice, aligning with right-wing political movements and challenging European policies on immigration and free speech. Merz, 69, and his entourage have sought coaching from other leaders on how to deal with Trump to avoid conflict, according to a source briefed on the matter. The meeting is taking place just weeks before a critical summit of the NATO Western military alliance, which has been strained by Trump's threats that the U.S. will not come to the aid of allies that do not increase their defence spending. Such threats are of particular concern to Germany, which has relied on U.S. nuclear deterrence for its security since the end of World War Two. Merz has already made some bold policy moves that he can highlight to appease Trump, analysts said. He has backed Trump's demand for NATO members to commit to a target of more than doubling defence spending to 5% of economic output in the future, earning praise last weekend from U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Merz, who has promised a more assertive foreign policy, also coordinated a visit by European leaders to Kyiv just days after taking office, two European diplomat sources said. "This shows that Germany is willing to accept a greater responsibility for Ukraine and the European security order – these are all things that have been wished for in the United States over years and will be welcomed," said Sudha David-Wilp of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Merz and Trump could find some common ground given they share business backgrounds, membership in right-of-center political parties, a focus on fighting illegal immigration and a fondness for golf, said Steven Sokol, President and CEO of the American Council on Germany. However, analysts noted frictions in the U.S.-German relationship. Merz was publicly critical of Trump shortly before the 2024 presidential election. On the eve of his own party's election victory in February, Merz criticised the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Russia. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Germany's Merz tempers expectations of breakthroughs in Trump talks
FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a speech at the German Association of Towns and Municipalities event in Berlin, Germany, June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo WASHINGTON/BERLIN - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would discuss Russia's war in Ukraine, U.S. tariffs and NATO in his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, but was not expecting major breakthroughs. Merz, a conservative who took office last month, was scheduled to join Trump for a meeting in the Oval Office and a White House lunch that analysts say could set the tone for U.S.-German ties for years to come. "I look forward to the talks although I do not expect us to make major breakthroughs on these three topics," Merz told reporters ahead of the meeting, his first with Trump as chancellor of Germany, Europe's largest economy. Trade will be a key topic along with ending the Ukraine war, Merz said. Germany is the second largest military and financial backer of Ukraine in its defence against Russia's invasion, after the United States. While Trump has threatened tariffs to slash Germany's substantial trade surplus, Merz said he would counter that his country is also the third biggest direct investor in the United States. The meeting comes amid a broader fraying of ties between the U.S. and many European countries. Trump's administration has, for example, intervened in domestic European politics in a break with past practice, aligning with right-wing political movements and challenging European policies on immigration and free speech. The Merz-Trump encounter will be closely watched after some dramatic Oval Office meetings in recent months in which the U.S. leader scolded Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and made false assertions. Merz, 69, and his entourage have sought coaching from other leaders on how to deal with Trump to avoid conflict, according to a source briefed on the matter. The meeting is taking place just weeks before a critical summit of the NATO Western military alliance, which has been strained by Trump's threats that the U.S. will not come to the aid of allies that do not increase their defence spending. Such threats are of particular concern to Germany, which has relied on U.S. nuclear deterrence for its security since the end of World War Two. Merz has already made some bold policy moves that he can highlight to appease Trump, analysts said. He has backed Trump's demand for NATO members to commit to a target of more than doubling defence spending to 5% of economic output in the future, earning praise last weekend from U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Merz, who has promised a more assertive foreign policy, also coordinated a visit by European leaders to Kyiv just days after taking office, two European diplomat sources said. "This shows that Germany is willing to accept a greater responsibility for Ukraine and the European security order – these are all things that have been wished for in the United States over years and will be welcomed," said Sudha David-Wilp of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. The fact Merz was invited to stay in the Blair House guest quarters across from the White House is a positive signal, said analysts. TO ARGUE OR NOT WITH TRUMP Merz and Trump could find some common ground given they share business backgrounds, membership in right-of-centre political parties, a focus on fighting illegal immigration and a fondness for golf, said Steven Sokol, President and CEO of the American Council on Germany. Merz has described himself as "a convinced transatlanticist", chairing the "Atlantic Bridge", a non-profit fostering U.S.-German ties, for 10 years. "They might discover a kindred spirit," Sokol said. However, analysts noted huge frictions in the U.S.-German relationship. "The challenge that he could face is ... if Trump says something is erroneous, do you correct him? Do you risk turning it into an argument?" said Jeffrey Rathke, a former U.S. diplomat and president of the American-German Institute at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington. Merz was publicly critical of Trump shortly before the 2024 presidential election. On the eve of his own party's election victory in February, Merz criticised the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Russia. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Germany's Merz to face Trump in Oval Office on inaugural trip
FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a speech at the German Association of Towns and Municipalities event in Berlin, Germany, June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo BERLIN/WASHINGTON - Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will hold his first face-to-face talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday in a high stakes meeting in the Oval Office as Europe seeks to stave off looming U.S. tariffs and sustain U.S. backing for Ukraine. The 69-year-old conservative, who took the helm of Europe's largest economy last month, is scheduled to join Trump for lunch and one-on-one talks that analysts say could set the tone for U.S.-German ties for years to come. Germany's export-oriented economy stands more to lose from U.S. tariffs than others and the country is also the second largest military and financial backer of Ukraine in its defence against Russia's invasion, after the United States. The meeting comes amid a broader fraying of the transatlantic relationship. Trump's administration has, for example, intervened in domestic European politics in a break with past practise, aligning with right-wing political movements and challenging European policies on immigration and free speech. The encounter will be closely watched after some recent meetings in the Oval Office, with the leaders of Ukraine and South Africa, for example, turned tense when Trump ambushed them with false claims and accusations. Merz and his entourage have sought coaching from other leaders on how to deal with Trump to avoid conflict. The meeting comes just weeks before a critical summit of the NATO Western military alliance which is looking increasingly strained given Trump's threats not to come to the aid of U.S. allies that do not up their spending on defence. Such threats are of particular concern to Germany, which has relied on U.S. nuclear deterrence for its security since the end of World War Two. Merz has already made some bold policy moves that he can highlight to appease Trump, analysts said. He has backed Trump's demand to more than double NATO's spending target to 5% of economic output, earning unprecedented praise last weekend from U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Merz, who has vowed a more assertive foreign policy, also coordinated a visit by European leaders to Kyiv just days after taking office, two European diplomat sources said. "This shows that Germany is willing to accept a greater responsibility for Ukraine and the European security order – these are all things that have been wished for in the United States over years and will be welcomed," said Sudha David-Wilp of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. "Germany is well-positioned to show that it can help the United States achieve its foreign policy goals." The fact Merz was invited to stay in the Blair House guest quarters across from the White House is a positive signal, said analysts. KINDRED SPIRIT OR FOE? Merz and Trump could even find some common ground given their business backgrounds, their membership in right-of-centre political parties, their focus on fighting illegal immigration and their fondness for golf, said Steven Sokol, President and CEO of the American Council on Germany. They also both had run-ins with former German chancellor Angela Merkel - who once squeezed Merz out of top-level politics. Moreover Merz has described himself as "a convinced transatlanticist", chairing the "Atlantic Bridge", a non-profit fostering U.S.-German ties, for 10 years. "They might discover a kindred spirit," Sokol said. Still, Trump was unpredictable, while Merz was impulsive, warned analysts, and there were huge frictions in the relationship. "The challenge that he could face is ... if Trump says something is erroneous, do you correct him? Do you risk turning it into an argument?" said Jeffrey Rathke, a former U.S. diplomat and president of the American-German Institute at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington. "Or do you find a way to indicate that you see it differently, but not let it sidetrack the conversation." U.S. administration officials remain upset that Merz criticized Trump shortly before the 2024 U.S. election, a source familiar with its thinking said. And, on the eve of his own election victory, Merz criticised the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Russia. Another possible landmine could be a recent German proposal for a levy on online platforms such as Alphabet's Google, and Meta's Facebook, especially given Trump's close ties with the U.S. tech industry, he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Explainer-Court blow to Germany's new government on asylum: what happens now?
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a speech at the German Association of Towns and Municipalities event in Berlin, Germany, June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang Explainer-Court blow to Germany's new government on asylum: what happens now? BERLIN - A court ruling that Germany could not simply return to Poland three asylum seekers who entered the country in May dealt a blow to the signature migration policy of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government: turning illegal migrants back at the borders. Here is a closer look at a court case and its consequences: WHAT HAPPENED? Police in May sent back to Poland three Somalis who crossed Germany's eastern border by train and requested asylum. With the help of asylum rights organisation Pro Asyl, they challenged this in a Berlin court. On Monday, a Berlin court issued an emergency injunction saying Germany had broken the law. Under the European Union's so-called Dublin rules - hitherto honoured mainly in the breach - refugees can only claim asylum in the first EU country they enter. The Berlin court said that before sending them back, authorities should have started the "Dublin process" of establishing which country was responsible for assessing their asylum claim, whether or not that was Poland. Germany only has land borders with other EU countries and Switzerland meaning that, in principle, nobody who arrives by land is eligible for asylum in the country. WHY IS THE RULING A PROBLEM FOR THE GOVERNMENT During his election campaign, Merz promised to crack down on migration on his government's first day in office. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, a fellow conservative, announced the policy of returning asylum seekers at the border. Following the ruling, he said the court's decision applied only in this particular case, set no precedent, and that the government would continue turning away asylum seekers crossing the land borders. This is true in a narrow sense: the ruling only applies to the three Somalis and does not bind any other judges. Other judges are bound by the same laws, however, so there is no reason to think they will rule differently. "The German government will lose every single case on this point, all the way up to the European Union's court," migration policy expert Gerald Knaus told Stern magazine. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? While migration is a signature issue for Merz and Dobrindt, their Social Democrat coalition partners are less comfortable with it. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig said in a tight-lipped statement that "the court's ruling must be followed". Legal experts say that, to be successful, German authorities would have to reject migrants before they enter the country's territory - something for which they would need neighbouring countries' cooperation. But Poland is no less racked by migration debates than Germany. Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government has just been dealt a heavy blow by Sunday's election victory of a right-wing candidate for whom reducing the number of migrants was a key topic. In the short term, it is likely to be difficult to get neighbouring countries, all of which feel more exposed to migration pressure than Germany, to accede to Dobrindt's demands. DOES THIS MATTER POLITICALLY? Perhaps not. The far-right Alternative for Germany was quick off the mark in condemning the "failure" of the new government's migration policy. But the next major regional election is almost a year away and overall migration levels, initially driven up by the Syrian civil war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have been on a downward trend for several years, independent of any policies adopted by individual EU countries. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
