During a recent official visit to Spain, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz engaged in discussions regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza and the actions of Israel. Addressing a joint press conference alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Chancellor Merz acknowledged a shared understanding with the Spanish government concerning the perceived disproportionality of Israel’s actions. However, he distinguished Germany’s position from Madrid’s, noting that Berlin does not use the term “genocide” to describe the events.
Merz attributed these differing viewpoints to Germany’s historical context, stating that such considerations naturally shape national perspectives.
Regarding potential sanctions against Israel, a proposal recently put forward by the European Commission, Chancellor Merz indicated that the German government requires further internal alignment. He anticipates a definitive decision will be reached during an informal EU Council meeting scheduled for October 1st in Copenhagen.
The leaders also addressed the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) program, a collaborative German-French-Spanish initiative to develop a next-generation weapon system. Chancellor Merz conceded that the project has faced significant setbacks, particularly due to protracted disputes among the participating companies. He committed to achieving a “solution” by the end of the year to ensure the project’s progression, without specifying whether Germany would pursue the project with Spain in the absence of France.
