German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his readiness to strengthen ties with the United States during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.
“We have much in common in our history. We owe a lot to the Americans. We will never forget this,” Merz said during their conversation in the Oval Office, referencing in part Trump’s German heritage.
Trump referred to Merz as a “very respected man.”
“We will have a great relationship with your country,” Trump said, adding that U.S. troops will continue to remain in Germany and welcomed Berlin’s increased defense spending.
He described Merz as someone who won the elections convincingly, joking that he looked “tough.”
So far, Trump has mainly relied on French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni when discussing major European issues. However, Merz now appears to be joining that inner circle.
During the meeting, Merz urged Trump to increase pressure on Russia to help end the three-year war in Ukraine.
“You know we support Ukraine, and we are expecting more pressure on Russia,” Merz said.
Germany is the second-largest supporter of Ukraine, after the United States, both militarily and financially, as Kyiv continues to resist the Russian invasion.
The war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described it as a “special military operation” aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine.
The West has responded by hitting Russia with severe economic sanctions.
The war has killed thousands and displaced millions from their homes.
