Overview

• Merz and Trump met face-to-face after several preparatory phone calls, marking efforts to cultivate a direct working relationship
• They agreed to maintain strong Western backing for Ukraine, with Merz thanking Trump for support and rejecting any notion of a dictated peace
• Germany committed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, aligning with NATO allies’ obligations and Trump’s demands
• Trade tensions topped the agenda as Merz urged de-escalation of US tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos that risk hurting Germany’s export sector
• Merz extended a personal olive branch by inviting Trump to his ancestral village in Kallstadt, aiming to deepen bilateral rapport