Convincing on these three points is crucial for Merz against Trump
By Volker Petersen
A Testy Trip to the U.S.: Merz Sits Down with Trump - Key Issues
The pressure is on - when Chancellor Friedrich Merz steps onto his plane for Washington, he's embarking on a tightrope act. Waiting for him in the White House is President Donald Trump. What was once a friendly chat has now transformed into a brutal battle.
Politics | Tense Talks Await: Merz Faces Trump - Main Discussions
This kind of meetup can go south real quick. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky got snubbed and kicked out. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had to endure diatribes about racial bias against whites. And Germany is one of Trump's favorite targets. Cue German cars in the U.S., defense, and freedom of speech allegations. Germany is always in Trump's hot seat. It's anybody's guess what might provoke Trump to be nasty to Merz. Especially since his VP, JD Vance, openly backs the AfD.
However, this trip is of utmost importance. If Merz can establish rapport with Trump, it could prove helpful on at least three major points: Ukraine, trade, and joint defense within NATO.
Ukraine and Sanctions
Merz stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine and hopes Trump will too. But Trump dreams of being a peacemaker, seeking to ease tensions and sweep the problem under the rug. He's after the Nobel Peace Prize, after all.
Merz finds himself in a favorable position. After Russia's massive airstrikes, Trump has expressed disappointment with Putin. Right after a lengthy chat with Putin, he said peace isn't around the corner. Meanwhile, the Senate is pushing for more sanctions. The idea came from Republican Lindsey Graham, who recently chatted with Merz in Berlin. Graham told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that Merz should thank Trump for lifting Syria sanctions and show how Germany will redouble its efforts. Europe is ready to bear some discomfort, Graham said.
Trade and Tariffs
Trump plays it by ear - he seems to have no steadfast beliefs. Except when it comes to tariffs. He's been championing them for decades. His primary target is China, but the EU isn't far behind. He claims the EU was founded to exploit the U.S., which is hogwash - it was created to promote intra-European trade and peace.
Merz will need to try sweet-talking Trump on this one. He'll make a case for reducing tariffs, with the goal of zero tariffs - a win-win situation. Otherwise, China could gain a foothold in Europe, a warning recently issued by his party colleague Norbert Röttgen in the Bundestag.
Steps towards a deal seem possible. In the U.S., Trump is facing legal challenges. A court has declared his tariffs illegal, and they only continue to apply until a final legal verdict. Trump might offer a new trade agreement with the EU as a win, which could also increase pressure on China.
Defense and NATO
Trump thinks Europeans are being defended by Americans while they loung around. For him, NATO isn't a joint alliance for freedom and peace, but a U.S. service for Europeans - and he thinks they're behind on their payments. The criticism that Europeans, especially Germans, contribute too little to NATO isn't unfounded. Many German experts agree in principle.
Trump is threatening, more or less openly, to leave NATO. That would mean the end of NATO, as troops, tanks, and jets could be replaced somehow, but not the nuclear shield. If the U.S. stopped guaranteeing Europe's security with their atomic rockets, Europe would be at Putin's mercy. That would be the worst-case scenario for German foreign policy, but it's also not in the U.S.'s interest.
At least Merz has some good news for Trump. Germany will significantly ramp up its military spending. The goal is no longer two percent of GDP, but five percent. However, this is a crafty way of speaking. Actually, it's about 3.5 percent for defense and 1.5 percent for infrastructure that could be vital in a defense scenario - like bridges that tanks can roll over. A boost for defense can be argued in a variety of ways.
Policies | No Longer Trump's whipping boy: Merz elevates Germany in U.S. esteem
Whether Merz can convince Trump remains to be seen. This meeting could have sweeping consequences for European security, economic relations, and NATO. So, pray for Merz. And maybe make popcorn. This is going to be a show.
- The upcoming meeting between Chancellor Merz and President Trump is crucial, as it could potentially shape the positions of Germany, the United States, and EC countries on three key issues: Ukraine, trade, and joint defense within NATO.
- In the discussions regarding Ukraine and sanctions, Merz must persuade Trump to maintain a firm stance against Russia's aggression, aligning with the Senate's push for additional sanctions. This could be an opportunity to enhance transatlantic cooperation in support of Ukraine's sovereignty.
