Agency Report –
German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, set to succeed Olaf Scholz as chancellor of Europe’s largest economy, on Wednesday said he plans to travel to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump soon.
“We will see each other soon,” Merz told public broadcaster ARD, though he added that no specific date had been set for the visit.
Merz emphasized that, before such a trip, consultations within the EU would be necessary, especially on issues such as tariffs.
Merz said that he aims to represent all European states, not just Germany, during his trip to Washington. “For me, the priority is Europe,” he added.
In an interview with broadcaster ZDF, Merz noted that Trump’s decision to suspend the recently imposed tariffs for 90 days was a response to Europe’s united stance.
He said that Europe is ready to negotiate but also determined to protect its interests in the international trade conflict.
Merz’s conservative bloc – made up of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) – is set to lead the government after agreeing a coalition with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Wednesday.
