Friedrich Merz plunged straight into international crises on his first full day as Germany’s new chancellor, urging India and Pakistan to de-escalate their tensions, vowing support for Ukraine and announcing plans to travel to Kyiv soon.
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Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron – both firm believers in the European Union – met in Paris to present a united European front on support for Ukraine and against US President Donald Trump’s trade war.
The pair vowed to work “hand in hand” to strengthen European defence capabilities and form a response to US tariffs.
With the EU’s largest economies and populations, the tandem of Germany and France has long underpinned the 27-nation bloc, but lost some of its vigour in recent months as leaders in both countries wrestled with domestic issues.
Merz and Macron – who called his counterpart “cher Friedrich”, or “dear Friedrich” – are hoping to give the relationship fresh impetus at a crucial time, with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin both exerting pressure on the EU, forcing it to rethink its own security.
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J.D. Vance says ‘threat vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it’s not China’
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Merz’s trip to Paris come the day after his historic defeat in the first round of voting in the German parliament. No other post-war candidate for German chancellor has failed to win on the first ballot. He won in the second round.