Merz’s first visit to the White House: a restart for Germany!

Merz’s first visit to the White House: a restart for Germany!

Washington DC, USA - On June 5, 2025, the new Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, visits the White House for the first time. The flight with the culturally significant "Konrad Adenauer" aircraft takes him to Washington, i.e. where he meets with US President Donald Trump. This encounter marks the start of a new phase in German-American relationships and follows talks between Merz and other European heads of state, including Emmanuel Macron and Keir Strander.

Merz, who was chairman of the “Atlantic Bridge” from 2009 to 2019, has earned a reputation as a supporter of transatlantic cooperation. He brings a direct and transparent way of communication to the conversations with Trump, which arouses expectations of a constructive exchange. High-ranking topics such as EU-Zölle, the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip are on the agenda of the talks.

political challenges and expectations

The political framework is characterized by tensions. Critical statements by US officials, especially Vice President JD Vance and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, are directed against Germany's handling of the right-wing populist alternative for Germany (AfD). Merz rejects these attacks and emphasizes stability and democracy in Germany. At the same time, he has to take into account the concerns of his American partners in relation to Germany's armaments and NATO membership.

With a clear focus on strengthening Europe and independence from the USA, Merz has already emphasized in the past that the United States is indispensable for the security of the European continent. In this context, he invited Trump to visit Germany, including the city of Bad Dürkheim, which has a special historical connection to Trump's family.

The geopolitical landscape

The geopolitical situation is influenced by the war in Ukraine and the threat of Russia. Merz acknowledges that Europe's decoupling is not realistic when it comes to counteracting aggressive tendencies. He calls for an increase in European defense spending to secure the partnership with the USA and to position Europe as a stable partner in a global context.

In addition, the role of NATO remains central in the discussions between Merz and Trump. The new German Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul underlines the importance of the transatlantic partnership as a backbone for peace and security in Europe.

Overall, the visit of Merz ’in the White House is not only symbolic of the beginning of the new in German-American relations, but also for the challenges that the geopolitical dynamics of Europe and the USA will continue to employ. The future of the transatlantic security partnership depends on how both sides define and implement their commitment to close cooperation.