The Latest Breaking News from Friedrich Merz

Germany to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP in 2029

Germany’s finance minister has vowed to lift the country’s defense spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product in 2029

The Independent UK · Jun 24, 2025

German Budget Plans Outline Vast Spending - And Record Debt

Germany's government pledged Tuesday to make massive new investments by taking on record debt as it presented its budget plans with the aim of reviving the economy and building up the military.

International Business Times · Jun 24, 2025

France and Germany pledge ‘unshakeable determination’ in face of Russian threat

World leaders have convened in the Netherlands for a two-day Nato summit, with a key objective to endorse a new defence spending target of 5 per cent of each country’s GDP. French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz jointly expressed support for US efforts to preserving Ukraine's sovereignty…

The Independent UK · Jun 24, 2025

Exclusive: Iran conflict to derail EU review of Israeli association agreement

Senior EU officials say a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement is "unlikely" now that Israel is in a new conflict with Iran, despite likelihood EU's own report will show evidence of Israel breaching its human rights clause in relation to Gaza.

Euronews · Jun 18, 2025

Starmer proves adept at juggling egos and issues at tricky G7 summit

PM managed to successfully balance foreign and domestic political considerations during his three days in Canada

The Guardian - UK · Jun 18, 2025

The Weimar triangle: how Germany’s new government could reinvigorate an important European security alliance

Decisions made by German chancellor Friedrich Merz when he came to power in May indicate that a somewhat dormant regional partnership is about to take on new significance in Europe. Merz immediately travelled to Paris and Warsaw to meet Emmanuel Macron and Donald Tusk, suggesting the so-called Weimar triangle is…

The Conversation · Jun 17, 2025

German leader says Israel 'doing our dirty work' with attacks on Iran

GERMAN leader Friedrich Merz has backed Israel’s attacks on Iran – claiming the country is doing “the dirty work” for other nations.

The National (Scotland) · Jun 17, 2025

UK will look into more ‘transactional’ approach to granting visas, says Starmer

Prime minister outlines plans to penalise countries that refuse to take back refused asylum seekers

The Guardian - UK · Jun 17, 2025

German chancellor’s rebuke of Israel marks a shift in state policy that has long put such criticism out of bounds

Friedrich Merz did something unprecedented for a German chancellor in late May 2025: publicly criticize Israel in unvarnished, unequivocal terms.

The Conversation · Jun 17, 2025

Trump denies Macron's claims linking early G7 summit exit and Israel-Iran ceasefire deal

The US president left the G7 summit in Canada one day early on Monday, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to say Trump left to work on the Israel-Iran ceasefire deal. Trump denied this on his Truth Social platform.

Euronews · Jun 17, 2025