Canadian Summit Sees German Chancellor and US President Engage in Talks
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of the Christian Democratic Union, met with US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Canada, with the content of their discussion remaining undisclosed for the time being.
Prior to the meeting, Merz had announced that the EU’s G7 representatives would be urging the US government to find a solution to the trade conflict. “We are resolute in our approach” the Chancellor said on Monday, while also cautioning that a solution would not be reached at the summit, but rather through incremental steps.
Another key topic of discussion at the summit was the recent escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran. European leaders proposed a joint statement, emphasizing that Iran must not be allowed to acquire materials capable of producing nuclear weapons and reiterating Israel’s right to self-defense. Reports suggest, however, that Trump is currently unwilling to sign the document.
Furthermore, there is a disagreement between the US administration and European leaders on how to proceed in the Ukraine conflict. “I would very much like to see the United States of America follow suit and impose corresponding sanctions on its side” Merz said. In contrast, Trump, upon his arrival in Kananaskis, once again criticized the exclusion of Russia from the G8 in 2014, which he deemed a mistake.