Merz holds talks with Trump amid differences over Iran policy
Photo: Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Phone conversation between Merz and Trump
According to Friedrich Merz, he held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Friday, May 15.
At the time of the call, the US president was on board an aircraft returning from China to Washington.
The German chancellor said the dialogue focused on key international issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and transatlantic cooperation.
Positions on Iran
Merz emphasized that the two sides reached a common understanding on a number of issues related to Iran.
In particular, this includes the need to resume negotiations and prevent further escalation.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
Overall assessment of the dialogue
According to the German chancellor, the call recorded a coordinated position on key issues of international security.
Merz described the outcome of the conversation as a shared approach by the parties to current challenges.
He separately emphasized that the discussion also covered the war in Ukraine, as well as issues related to NATO’s activities.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the war in Ukraine has become a factor that has significantly accelerated the development of military technologies. According to him, such a pace of progress in the defense sector would hardly have been possible in peacetime.
Merz said Ukraine should deepen its participation in European integration processes, but stressed that accelerated accession to the European Union is currently not possible.
