Merz visits Trump: First trip since the start of the war in Iran

Merz traveled from Berlin to Washington while Germany and France announced plans to deepen cooperation on nuclear deterrence, marking another step by European neighbors in adapting to shifts in transatlantic relations amid ongoing Russian threats and concerns over instability related to the conflict in Iran.

Merz, who recently visited Chinese President Xi Jinping, will work to maintain the positive relationship he has built with Trump over the past year, alongside support from German leadership in increasing defense spending.

However, this will require delicate diplomacy, given questions about the legality of the strikes on Iran under international law and deep concern in Europe over Trump’s threats to impose new tariffs on global goods.

First European leader in Washington after the Iran strikes

Merz will be the first European leader to visit Washington since the strikes on Iran, which blocked one of the world’s key oil transport routes and caused chaos in global air traffic, and following the February 20 Supreme Court ruling declaring Trump’s tariffs unlawful.

Iran strikes at the center of talks

While discussions were initially expected to focus on trade, they are likely to be dominated by the U.S.–Israeli strike in which Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders were killed over the weekend.

On Sunday, Merz neither criticized nor explicitly supported the U.S. airstrikes, while Trump’s critics argued that the operation was carried out without sufficient explanation or the necessary legal basis under international law.

Merz’s diplomatic restraint

“We recognize the dilemma,” Merz said, explaining that repeated attempts over past decades have not deterred Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons or from oppressing its own people.

“That is why we will not lecture our partners on their military strikes against Iran.”