Politico: Germany’s Merz steps into Trump’s lion’s den for critical talks

On June 5, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington for a visit full of both risks and opportunities.

The Oval Office encounter comes after months of tense transatlantic relations and could be critical for Europe’s security, trade, and unity on Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via Politico.

Merz, who recently called for Europe to “achieve independence from the USA” and doubted NATO’s future, is expected to face tough questions from Trump.

Their meeting follows past Oval Office confrontations — including Trump’s explosive claims about South Africa and attacks on Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy — that have left foreign leaders rattled.

Despite this, there are hopes the two may get along. Both are wealthy, golf-loving businessmen who value strong national borders.

Merz has taken steps to please Trump, promising to ramp up Germany’s military spending and tighten immigration policies. His government now talks of building the “strongest conventional army” in Europe and is eyeing a 5% defence budget — a massive shift from previous German policies.

The German leader is also distancing himself from earlier anti-American comments and is now calling the U.S. “indispensable for Europe’s security.” In turn, Trump’s team appears more open to better ties. A White House official described the visit as “just another foreign leader meeting,” while U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently praised Germany’s defence efforts.

Still, there are sensitive topics. Trump’s team has shown sympathy for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party Merz firmly opposes. Past U.S. criticism of Germany’s treatment of the AfD has raised eyebrows in Berlin.

Trade is also on the table. European officials hope to ease tensions over car tariffs by offering looser rules on autonomous vehicles. But those close to Merz say the visit will rely more on personal chemistry than technical details.

Merz has already spoken warmly of his calls with Trump and even invited him to his grandfather’s German hometown. Still, he knows how unpredictable these talks can be.

“Anyone who sees and experiences Trump on TV knows how they might go,” he warned.

For Merz, it’s not just a meeting — it’s a test of whether he can steer Germany through a tricky global moment.

By Aghakazim Guliyev