Friedrich Merz: Merz visits Macron on first foreign trip after federal election

The German election winner Friedrich Merz and the French President Emmanuel Macron met for talks in the Élysée Palace in Paris. During the three-hour discussion, both showed their willingness to open a new chapter in German-French relations, the Union said in the evening. It was the CDU chairman's first trip abroad after the federal election .

No details of the conversation were initially disclosed, and the French side made no comment. The Union simply said that the conversation took place in an extremely friendly atmosphere and that there was a great deal of agreement on the topics and numerous starting points for joint initiatives. Merz also thanked Macron on X.

In view of the US change of course in Ukraine policy, the meeting in Paris was probably also about European defense. Macron had informed the other heads of state and government of the EU countries in a video conference that morning about his recent talks with US President Donald Trump .

The exchange also took place against the backdrop of the special EU summit on 6 March, at which decisions are to be taken on further support for Ukraine and strengthening European defence.