Merz wants to approach Trump: Deal desired before new elections

Merkur Merz wants to approach Trump: Deal desired before new elections Tadhg Nagel • 4 hours • 3 minutes reading time After the US Republicans' election victory Friedrich Merz wants to reach agreements with the new US president. The breakdown of the traffic light coalition could play into his hands. Berlin - Friedrich Merz, the chairman of the Union parties, has stressed the need to quickly reach agreements with the newly elected US President Donald Trump. He sees this as an opportunity to strengthen Germany's international reputation after the US election in 2024. According to polls, Merz could benefit from the recent failure of the traffic light coalition and have good prospects of becoming Chancellor in new elections in January. "In Germany, we have never really articulated and enforced our interests well enough, and we have to change that," said Merz in an interview with Stern. He added: "The Americans are much more offensive. It should not end with only one side benefiting, but with us making good agreements for both sides. Trump would call it a deal." Merz is aiming for deals with Trump after the 2024 US election - new elections as an opportunity after the traffic light coalition ends? Merz criticized the traffic light government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) for being surprised by Trump's re-election after supporting the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris before the election. "Trump has a good memory. The current federal government will no longer be listened to by the new government. Scholz is now a lame duck internationally," Merz is convinced. Merz cited the delivery of US military aircraft as an example of a possible "deal" with Trump. He suggested that the F-35 fighter jets from the USA bought in Germany should also be maintained in Germany, with support from the Americans. "That would be a good deal for both sides," he said. Looking for the perfect deal before the new election - Merz wants to work with Trump Despite his warnings about the serious consequences of Trump's re-election for Europe at the end of October, Merz now seems to have undergone a partial change of heart. "What will happen if a president is elected for a second time in America who declares NATO obsolete and is no longer willing to keep security promises?" asked the CDU leader at the Junge Union's Germany Day in Halle. "Then we are on our own. By that I don't just mean us Germans, but we Europeans." In January, Merz accused Berlin and Brussels of not having prepared sufficiently for a possible re-election of Trump and the consequences that would follow. "I am depressed by how carelessly the EU and especially the largest member state are dealing with such a potential challenge," said the Union leader at the time. From Trump critic to deal maker - the CDU wants to approach Trump after the 2024 US election What such preparation for Trump's success can look like was shown in a live broadcast by CDU politician Johann Wadephul on the morning after the 2024 US election. While Merz had warned about Trump before the state elections in the east, there was little sign of this from his deputy, reports Die Zeit. Wadephul spoke neither of Trump's extremism nor of a threat to democracy. Instead, he emphasized: "We need a good relationship, with whatever US government" and focused on economic aspects. Wadephul was of the opinion that the economy had decided the election, especially the high inflation. Trump's agitation was not the decisive factor. A German government must therefore primarily focus on a functioning economy. In questions of defense and migration policy, one must also "find an appropriate answer," the CDU politician continued. During these remarks, Trump seemed more like a warning shot than a threat to democracy.