Merz, Macron convene to resolve NATO, EU-US trade tangle

Berlin Summit: France‑Germany Unite on US‑EU Trade Row

Macron met Merz at Berlin’s Villa Borsig on Wednesday to forge a front on the transatlantic spat, NATO security, and other pressing matters. Both leaders, who took office in May, have been keen to strengthen the partnership at the core of the EU as US President Donald Trump has shaken trans‑Atlantic ties.

Key Themes Discussed

• Defense & Security: Macron said “bilateral convergence… whether it concerns defense, security, the energy transition, or AI and quantum tech is absolutely key to gaining efficiency, critical mass, and cooperation.”
• EU‑US Trade Dispute: Merz and Macron had a working dinner to touch on the EU‑US trade row after Trump threatened 30‑percent tariffs if no deal is reached by August 1. Merz voiced optimism, saying “we are hearing in these minutes that there could possibly be decisions.” Mac‘s emphasis: “lowest possible tariffs, but also, of course, to be respected as the partners that we are.”
• Ukraine & NATO Defence: Paris, Berlin, London, and Warsaw push efforts to support Ukraine against Russia and build NATO’s European member states’ defence capabilities.

Other Bilateral Challenges

• Joint Defence Projects: Disagreement over a combat aircraft to be made jointly by France, Germany, and Spain. French defence company Dassault head Eric Trappier doubted the project’s viability. Merz promised to discuss the joint project “on which we are working intensively.”
• Energy Policy: France relies on nuclear power; Germany is phasing out nuclear in favor of solar and wind. Paris wants Berlin to commit to “technology neutrality” and classify nuclear energy as climate‑friendly. Merz’s centre‑right CDU/CSU could be more open than the Social Democrats‑Greens coalition.

Joint Promises

In a joint newspaper article in May, both leaders pledged a “restart in energy policy” and “equal treatment at the EU level for all low‑emission energies.”