German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Berlin to reaffirm their commitment to the Franco-German partnership, a cornerstone of the European Union.
Despite warmer personal relations, the leaders are struggling to overcome deep divisions on key issues such as defense cooperation—especially a joint fighter jet project—and how to respond to escalating trade tensions with the United States. Both leaders pledged to resolve their differences on the fighter jet program by the end of August and to coordinate their positions on EU-US trade policy, including potential tariff retaliation. The meeting highlighted the challenges facing Europe's two largest economies as they seek to present a united front on the global stage.
Persistent disagreements threaten to undermine the effectiveness of the Franco-German 'engine' at a critical time for the EU.
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