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Merz-Trump meeting/ German Chancellor seeks equal dialogue

2026-03-02 08:28:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Attacks on Iran and its retaliatory counterattacks are likely to be the main topics in the Merz-Trump meeting, which was anticipated before recent developments in the Middle East.

Germany is not involved in these attacks. Chancellor Merz defended the military actions of the US and Israel before his trip to the US.

The German government shares "the relief of many Iranians that the mullahs' regime is now coming to an end," he said. At the same time, he called for a lasting solution to the conflict and warned of the risk of an escalation of the war.

From China to the USA

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has tried in recent weeks to improve his image as a politician who deals primarily with foreign policy. He has increasingly turned to domestic issues, especially to win re-election as chairman of his conservative CDU party, with good results.

He managed to do this last weekend (22.02.2026) - and immediately afterwards the head of the German government returned to his role as a tireless diplomat traveling the world.

First China, now the United States: Merz has devoted almost an entire week to improving relations with the authorities in Beijing. This is certainly being watched carefully in Washington.

Merz will travel to meet with US President Donald Trump on Monday (02.03.2026) and plans to stay in the US capital until Wednesday. His goal is to speak with Trump on a more equal footing than before.

Hope for a different tariff policy

Trump recently suffered a significant defeat when the US Supreme Court struck down his tough tariff policy on key points, including measures against Germany and the European Union.

Merz commented on the decision last weekend to public broadcaster ARD, after the end of the CDU congress in Stuttgart: "It is an interesting decision, which many were expecting - that the Supreme Court in Washington imposes restrictions on the government."

However, many important and controversial issues remain weighing on transatlantic relations, particularly regarding tariffs.

Merz himself stressed that the US highest court's ruling only applies to the general tariff rate that Trump introduced, but not to important sectoral taxes. The US administration, following the court's ruling, has already imposed new tariffs of 10 percent on most countries on a different legal basis and has threatened new rates of up to 15 percent.

A more aggressive approach is worth it

Trade policy thus remains one of the main topics of the Chancellor's talks with Trump. This was confirmed by German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius at a press conference in Berlin: "Perhaps the visit comes at the right time to discuss the next steps directly with the President, with the agreed position of the European Union."

Even last year, after taking office in May, Merz was wary of Trump. He considered the fact that his first visit to the White House was largely harmonious a success.

Later, in the US, along with other important European politicians, he defended positions on Ukraine. And in early 2026, Europeans experienced that a more decisive approach to the American President is certainly worth it.

Relatively calmer tensions over Greenland

When Trump threatened to take Greenland, which belongs to Denmark, the tone changed, and so did Merz. Germany and other European NATO partners supported Denmark and the people of Greenland. As a result, Trump did not push the issue further for the time being.

And when Trump criticized the long-term deployment of German soldiers alongside US forces in Afghanistan as irrelevant, Merz responded in the Bundestag with the following words: "We will not allow this mission, which we also carried out in the interests of our ally, the United States of America, to be underestimated and devalued today."

The situation in Ukraine remains dramatic.

It is still an open question whether peace can finally be achieved in Ukraine. Even President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that his country will have to give up some territory, at least temporarily, if the guns really fall silent. However, Ukraine firmly rejects the possibility of handing over to Russia areas that Russian forces have not yet occupied.

In Washington, Merz will certainly emphasize how much importance he attaches to Ukraine. Russia's war of aggression has been going on for four years - it remains to be seen whether Trump will show understanding on this subject. /DW