After his visit to the White House, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) expressed satisfaction with the American response and told reporters that the United States “respects Germany”. He said President Trump had acknowledged Germany’s financial commitment of a €100 billion special reserve for military upgrades, calling the gesture “good news” and confirmed that the United States will keep its troop presence in Germany.
Merz also mentioned that he and Trump agreed on the assessment of the Mullah regime. They said the Iranian government poses a threat to Israel and to the peace and security of the entire region, though Merz cautioned that it is unclear whether the plan will succeed and that it carries risks.
On the tariff dispute, the chancellor noted that Washington is aware a threshold has been reached for Germany and Europe. Regarding the Ukraine war, Merz said he has advocated for increased pressure on Moscow.
