Merz stresses European unity and defense during his first trip as German
chancellor
[May 08, 2025]
By STEFANIE DAZIO, JOHN LEICESTER and KIRSTEN GRIESHABER
BERLIN (AP) — Friedrich Merz plunged straight into international crises
on his first full day as Germany’s new chancellor Wednesday, presenting
a united front with France against U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade
war, demanding more aid for Gaza and announcing he soon would visit
Ukraine.
Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron — firm believers in the
European Union and leaders of the continent's largest economies — used
their first meeting since the German leader’s appointment Tuesday to
show unity on Ukraine and other issues causing alarm in Europe. They
vowed to strengthen the continent’s security and increase defense
spending.
The tandem of Germany and France has long underpinned the 27-nation
bloc, but lost some of its vigor in recent months as leaders in both
countries wrestled with domestic issues.
In a joint news conference, Merz acknowledged that Europe still needs
the U.S. for peace in Ukraine. “It is our firm conviction that we cannot
end this war in Ukraine without further political and military
engagement by the United States of America,” he said. “The Europeans
cannot replace this at present.”
Both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been exerting
pressure on the EU, forcing it to rethink its own security. It was not
clear when Merz would visit Ukraine.
Macron said that France and Germany will “accelerate” defense
cooperation, including jointly developing new defense technologies
“necessary for the wars of tomorrow.” He listed working together on
tanks, long-range missiles and combat aircraft. He also said that the
countries would start regular meetings of a French-German defense
council.
Merz also visited Poland on Wednesday and addressed his new government's
plans to station more police at Germany's border to curb illegal
migration and even turn away some asylum-seekers.
“If we, everybody together in the European Union, give the signal to
those who are setting out for Europe without valid opportunities for
entry, if we give this signal especially to the traffickers, that these
routes are going to get a lot more difficult and that we are going to
close them, then that is a joint and good signal,” Merz said during a
joint news conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Demanding aid for Gaza
Merz and Macron also demanded that Israel allow humanitarian aid for
civilians in Gaza. Israel cut off all aid to the territory over two
months ago to try to pressure the Hamas militant group.
Israel is preparing to ramp up its campaign against Hamas in a
devastating war now entering its 20th month. The war began on Oct. 7,
2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200
people and taking 251 hostages.
Israel’s offensive has killed more than 52,000 people in Gaza, many of
them women and children, according to Palestinian health officials, who
don't distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count.
Merz urged Israel to be “more responsible" — striking comments given
Germany's past and present support for Israel.
Macron said that France couldn’t, on the one hand, defend Ukrainians’
sovereign and territorial rights while ignoring the plight of
Palestinians in Gaza, saying: “We cannot have double standards."
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, left, and French President
Emmanuel Macron shake hands at the end of a joint press conference
following their meeting at the Elysee palace in Paris Wednesday, May
7, 2025.(Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)
Both men sought stability between India and Pakistan, saying they
view the latest exchange of fire "between these two nuclear powers
with the utmost concern.”
India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory early
Wednesday, killing at least 31 people in what Pakistan’s leader
called an act of war. India said it struck infrastructure used by
militants linked to last month’s massacre of tourists in the
Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.
Merz's historic defeat
The German leader's trip to Paris came the day after his historic
defeat in the first round of voting in the German parliament. No
other postwar candidate for chancellor has failed to win on the
first ballot. He won in the second.
Traditionally, newly elected chancellors make a point of visiting
their big neighbors in the west and east on the first day in office
to stress European unity.
Merz's Paris stop showed that the new chancellor was plunging into
world affairs, sending a message that Germany is back after his
predecessor's more timid approach. Macron touted their meeting as “a
new page” in the French-German partnership.
In particular, France is looking for German backing for increased EU
defense spending in the face of Russia's threat as well as concerns
that Trump is pivoting from its post-World War II relationship with
Europe to focus on countering China.
The French president also said France and Germany would “act hand in
hand” in the face of Trump’s tariffs and work for “a united European
response and a balanced outcome that respects our interests.”
80th anniversary of World War II
The stops in Paris and Warsaw occurred on the 80th anniversary of
Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War II. The meeting
with Macron was particularly loaded with symbolism for the two
countries that were bitter enemies in World War I and II.
The first war ended with an armistice agreement signed in a railway
car north of Paris. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler then used that railway
car in accepting France’s capitulation in 1940, after its defenses
succumbed to the German invasion.
“German-French friendship is a gift, a gift of forgiveness and
reconciliation, especially for us Germans,” Merz said.
Poland's leader re-affirmed his support for a strengthened European
defense, which would include a stronger German military.
“It is not easy, considering history, to say out loud, as a Polish
prime minister, that I would very much like Germany to arm itself
faster and more intensively," Tusk said. “Armed Germany in Poland is
not a popular slogan, but fortunately today we live in times when
there is a different Germany, a different Poland, different
threats.”
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Leicester reported from Paris. Philipp Jenne in Vienna and Rafal
Niedzielski in Warsaw, Poland, contributed.
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