Overview
- After a brief COP30 visit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said no accompanying journalists wanted to stay in Belém and that all were glad to return to Germany.
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva responded with a pointed invitation to experience Pará’s culture, while Belém’s mayor called the remark arrogant and prejudiced.
- Rio de Janeiro’s mayor posted an insult calling Merz a Nazi before deleting it and posting a more conciliatory message.
- Berlin downplayed the episode by noting Merz regretted not seeing the Amazon and praised Belém’s hosting, and Environment Minister Carsten Schneider visited local projects and lauded the city.
- German Greens and other critics urged an apology as Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil defended Merz, and no apology or specific contribution to the new tropical‑forest fund has been announced.