Friedrich Merz, the likely future Chancellor of Germany, visited France shortly after his conservative bloc’s victory in the elections.
According to analysts, the purpose of the visit was to align positions on issues of EU defense, trade with the US, and the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Merz at the Élysée Palace just after his bloc’s (CDU/CSU) electoral victory in Germany. During a working dinner, they agreed on restarting bilateral relations, according to sources cited by the media.
Details of the talks have not been disclosed by either Paris or Berlin, but it is known that discussions included topics related to Macron’s recent trip to Washington, his meeting with Trump, strengthening the EU’s defense capabilities, potential US tariffs on European imports, Europe’s rapprochement with Russia, and the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
Earlier, the US president had threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on goods from the EU, which may also have been discussed at the Élysée. This was Merz’s first foreign trip after his party’s victory in the German elections. The visit marked the beginning of a new era in Franco-German partnership following strained relations between Macron and the outgoing Chancellor Scholz.
