Germany’s new Prime Minister Friedrich Merz made his World Fair debut with plans to quickly work with Allies France and Poland to present European fronts to Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s trade war.
The new pairing of Mertz and French President Emmanuel Macron are both staunch followers of the European Union and could help strengthen pressure from Trump and resistance from the 27-nation bloc against Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Due to the EU’s largest economy and population, Germany and France tandems have long supported 27 blocs, but have lost some of their vibrancy in recent months as leaders of both countries tackled domestic issues.
Meltz and Macron hope that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will put pressure on the EU and force it to rethink its own security, giving the relationship a new impulse at a critical time.
Merz’s trip comes the day after historic defeat, the voting for the first round of German parliament.
Postwar prime minister candidates were unable to win the first vote. He won in the second round.
Traditionally, the newly elected German Prime Minister has emphasized visiting his large neighbors in the West and East on the first day of his inauguration to highlight European unity.
French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barott said this week that Merz and Macron hope to rediscover what he called the “French German Motor.”
The French minister said he expected the relationship between Paris and Berlin to be simpler under Merz than he had been under his predecessor, Olaf Scholz.
In particular, France is seeking Germany’s support for increased perceived EU defence spending against Russia’s threat to European security, calling for concern that Trump will focus on fighting China beyond Europe from post-World War II transatlantic relations.
Merz is scheduled to hold a press conference with Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass on Wednesday.
Macron and British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer have held individual summits of European leaders to discuss security in Ukraine and Europe, sparking Trump’s clear move to cut off the continent in Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
Stops in Paris and Warsaw take place on the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender in World War II.
Macron’s third German Prime Minister as president of France is particularly packed with the symbolism of both countries, who were the bitter enemies of World War I and the second generation.
The first war ended with an armistice agreement signed on railway cars in northern Paris.
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler used the same railroad car when accepting the surrender of France in 1940 after his defense surrendered to German invasions.
