A Chancellor's Challenging Path: Merz's Three Crucial Points to Impress Trump
By Jake Thompson
Persuading public opinion on these three matters is a task for Merz Trump.
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This Thursday evening, German time, Chancellor Friedrich Merz will venture to the White House for a make-or-break meeting with President Donald Trump. With the stakes high and tension palpable, Merz must navigate treacherous waters if he hopes to convince Trump on three critical matters: Ukraine, trade, and NATO defense.
This visit could go south faster than a lead balloon. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj learned this the hard way, being snubbed and shown the door. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was treated to a litany of racist tirades. And Germany has been on Trump's naughty list for quite some time. Whether it's German cars, defense, or freedom of speech, Merz knows that Trump won't hesitate to give him a hard time – especially since Trump's VP, JD Vance, is a known supporter of extremist party AfD.
The visit is of paramount importance. Should Merz and Trump establish a rapport, it could help in tackling at least three headline issues: Ukraine, trade, and joint defense within NATO.
Ukraine and Sanctions
Merz unequivocally supports Ukraine and wishes for Trump to join him in imposing sanctions against Russia. But Trump's dream, to act as a mediator and bury the problem under a rug, might be hard to shake. He dreams of winning the Nobel Peace Prize someday, after all.
Merz finds himself in a favorable position, though. After Russia's massive airstrikes, Trump expressed disappointment with Putin. Just recently, after a lengthy phone call with Putin, he stated that peace wasn't imminent. Meanwhile, the Senate is pushing for more sanctions. The idea came from Republican Lindsey Graham, who chatted with Merz in Berlin last Monday. Graham told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" that Merz should thank Trump for lifting sanctions on Syria, and prove that Germany can "take a punch" in the ongoing struggle for peace.
Trade and Tariffs
Trump isn't known for his consistency – he does what he believes will benefit him. Take tariffs, for example, a subject he's been passionately advocating for decades. He's been eager to bring entire industries back to America with these tariffs. But with a court having ruled his tariffs as illegal, Merz sees an opportunity to make a deal. By presenting a new trade agreement with the EU, Trump could spin this as his victory.
On the tariff issue, Merz will have to work his charm. He'll advocate for reducing tariffs, ideally to zero – proposing a win-win situation for both countries. Otherwise, China could gain an edge in Europe. His fellow party member Norbert Röttgen recently warned against this in the Bundestag.
Defense and NATO
Trump often accuses Europeans, especially Germans, of freeloading off American defense efforts. He views NATO as a service provided by the U.S. to its European allies, with the Europeans being late payers. However, Merz can counter this by offering proof of Germany's increased defense spending. Indeed, Germany will significantly up its defense investment, with the target no longer being 2% of GDP, but 5%.
This increase in defense spending is good news for Trump, who could present it as his achievement. Yet while Trump may seem tough on NATO, experts in Germany agree that Germany and other European nations must contribute more to the alliance.
So, can Merz rise to the occasion and avoid a diplomatic disaster? We'll find out soon enough. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
- The conversation between Chancellor Merz and President Trump promises to be a crucial one, with the EC countries' employment policy potentially affecting NATO defense, trade relationships, and sanctions against Russia.
- In the face of President Trump's unpredictable politics and controversial opinions on Europe's role in defense and trade, Chancellor Merz must employ effective diplomacy to protect Germany's interests and influence Trump's decisions on these key issues.
