Friedrich Merz said he wanted to discuss nuclear deterrence with France and Britain and called on all EU member states to increase defence spending to boost their security and help Ukraine.
The new German chancellor, in Paris for his first foreign visit since being sworn in on Tuesday, announced deeper defence co-operation with France in a “new Franco-German push for Europe.”
Merz, who has pledged to rearm Germany and secured parliamentary backing in March for a debt-funded defence and infrastructure package exceeding €1 trillion, said increased defence spending by all EU members was the only way to “gradually close our capability gaps and collectively support Ukraine”.
Macron posted a picture with his “great new friend” Merz on his Instgram
Europe must become more secure and competitive, which requires greater unity, he told a joint news conference with President
