Merz and Trump: Secret agenda at the meeting in the White House!

Merz and Trump: Secret agenda at the meeting in the White House!

On Thursday, May 31, 2025, the chairman of the CDU, Friedrich Merz, is expected at the White House for an important meeting with former US President Donald Trump. This meeting is marked by current geopolitical tensions and economic challenges, particularly with regard to the Ukraine conflict and the ongoing customs dispute between the USA and the EU. Trump said on Wednesday that it would become clear within the next two weeks whether Vladimir Putin was “fooling us.” This could be crucial for the upcoming talks and the political landscape.

A central topic of the meeting will also be the discussion about possible new sanctions against Russia. Trump is currently holding back new sanctions so as not to jeopardize a possible deal. It remains unclear whether new talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place in Istanbul before the conversation between Merz and Trump. The Chancellor of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, has meanwhile put pressure on the USA to achieve stricter sanctions against Russia and is calling for increased support in the crisis situation.

Defense spending and NATO policy

Another important aspect that is important in the context of the meeting between Merz and Trump is defense spending. Trump demands that NATO partners spend five percent of their gross domestic product on defense. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has suggested a middle ground: 3.5 percent for military purposes and 1.5 percent for infrastructure. Merz has supported this proposal, suggesting a cooperative approach, despite his anger over attacks by US Vice President JD Vance on European allies. Merz also rejects the US government's criticism of the AfD's classification by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

The upcoming NATO summit in Brussels, scheduled to take place at the end of June, will also address relevant issues such as defense spending. The discussion on defense efforts will be particularly important since NATO spent over $1,506 billion on defense in 2024, which is ten thousand times more than Russia's defense spending of $149 billion. Germany increased its defense spending by 28 percent to $88.5 billion in 2024, which is significant in the international context as NATO currently includes 32 member states.

Merz is preparing intensively for the conversation and has already sought advice from other heads of state and government, including Zelensky and South African President Ramaphosa. He plans to approach the conversation with a positive attitude and emphasize the common interests between the USA and Germany.

In a politics characterized by mutual distrust, it remains to be seen what concrete progress will result from the upcoming meeting, both in terms of military cooperation and economic issues.

While Merz is in Washington, US senators including Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal are holding talks with Zelensky in Kiev to increase pressure on Russia and set a clear line on future sanctions. These developments will be followed with excitement, especially at a time when the geopolitical situation is changing rapidly.

Bietigheim newspaper reports that Merz remains calm and wants to use valuable insights from his discussions to strengthen bilateral relations between Germany and the USA. This could be crucial for both countries to face today's challenges together.

In summary, Merz's upcoming visit shows how important transatlantic relations are in the current political situation and what challenges still need to be overcome.

Daily Mirror and Mitwelt provide further information and context on defense spending and international arms debates.