German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Berlin to address growing divisions between their countries on key issues like defense cooperation and trade policy.
Despite warmer personal relations, the leaders struggled to overcome disagreements on a joint fighter jet project and how to respond to escalating trade tensions with the United States. Both leaders emphasized the need for a united European front, particularly as the EU considers a $100 billion tariff retaliation against the US. They set an August deadline to resolve their fighter jet dispute, signaling urgency but also ongoing friction.
The meeting highlights the challenges facing the so-called 'Franco-German engine' at a critical time for European unity and global trade.
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