Merz makes surprise trip to Paris for talks with Macron

Germany’s incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz makes surprise trip to Paris for talks with Macron

Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.

The visit comes just days after his conservative CDU/CSU bloc emerged as the biggest party in terms of electoral seats after the German election.

What did Merz and Macron talk about?

The trip was expected to include discussions on the recent shift in US policy on the war in Ukraine, as well as European security issues.

Merz posted a photo of himself and Macron on social media late on Wednesday, thanking the French president for his “friendship” and “trust in German-French relations.”

“Together our countries can achieve great things for Europe,” Merz wrote on Instagram.