BERLIN (AP) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed optimism on Friday after his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, encountering a US administration open to dialogue. Washington remains committed to NATO.
Merz characterized his Oval Office encounter as both constructive and candid, highlighting that the two leaders shared differing perspectives on Ukraine.
“During our meeting in the Oval Office yesterday, I clearly articulated a position on Ukraine that differed from Trump’s. Not only was there no pushback, but I also revisited it in detail over lunch,” he remarked.
This White House meeting marked the first in-person exchange between the two. Merz, who took office in May, managed to steer clear of the conflicts that have affected other global leaders, such as Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
The two leaders began their discussions with a friendly tone. Merz gifted Trump a gold birth certificate from the president’s grandfather, Friedrich Trump, who immigrated from Calstadt, Germany. Trump described Merz as “a very good person to deal with.”
Merz noted that the American administration is open to engaging in discussions, listening to, and accepting varied opinions.
He emphasized that communication should be a two-way street.
He also mentioned his meetings with Senators on Capitol Hill, urging them to acknowledge the extent of Russia’s rearmament.
“Look at the advancements in Russia’s armament and what they are currently doing. It’s clear you don’t fully understand the situation,” he stated. “The reality is, while you can converse with them, you shouldn’t feel threatened. That’s not typically the approach anyway.”
Fluent in English, Merz underscored the necessity for transatlantic trust and reminded Trump of the importance of allies.
“Whether we accept it or not, we will continue to depend on the United States for a long time,” he asserted. “However, you also need a global ally, and Europeans—especially Germans—are your best partners.”
“This highlights the distinction between an authoritarian regime and a democracy: an authoritarian system has subordinates, while a democracy has partners. We aspire to be partners with both Europe and America.”
He stressed that the US remains dedicated to NATO, especially as Germany and other nations increase their defense expenditures. Trump has previously hinted that the US may withdraw that commitment if a member state fails to meet its defense spending targets within the alliance.
“There’s no doubt about the US government’s commitment to NATO, and we have all vowed to do more. We are assured that we can also defend ourselves in Europe.”
“For years, we have been free riders under America’s security umbrella, but that is changing now.”
Source: apnews.com