German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, with key global issues including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as strained trade relations, expected to dominate the agenda.
The meeting will mark Merz’s first official visit to Washington since taking office in early May and his first in-person meeting with President Trump.
German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius confirmed the visit on Saturday, stating that the two leaders will discuss bilateral relations, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, and transatlantic trade policy.
President Trump’s return to the White House has unsettled European leaders, particularly over shifts in U.S. security commitments and the reimposition of tariffs on European goods. In response, Merz has indicated that the European Union may consider countermeasures if trade tensions continue to escalate.
Speaking at the WDR Europaforum last Monday, Merz said, “We shouldn’t react heedlessly or hastily, but if we’re left with no other option, we must be prepared to use all tools available — including tariffs on U.S. tech companies.”
Germany, which recently pledged support to Kyiv for the development of long-range missile systems, is also looking to ensure continued U.S. backing for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
Though this will be their first face-to-face meeting, Merz and Trump have already spoken several times by phone. Earlier this month, both leaders agreed to visit each other’s capitals, though no dates were announced.
On the crisis in Gaza, Merz has taken a more critical stance toward Israel, attempting to balance Germany’s historical support for the Israeli state with increasing concern over the humanitarian toll of the conflict.
“I no longer understand what the Israeli army is doing in the Gaza Strip,” Merz said in an interview with public broadcaster WDR last week. He cautioned Israel’s leadership to refrain from actions that “even friends can no longer support.”
good