Friedrich Merz

After a bitter split, European leaders play nice with Trump

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presents US President Donald Trump with a jersey with the number 47 on it as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks on.

Chancellor swop? Rumours swirl about German leader Friedrich Merz’s future

Most commentators don’t believe German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be dumped any time soon. But the drama underscores how unstable once-staid German politics has become.

Germany’s Merz pitches ‘associate’ EU membership for Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attend a press conference on the day of the German-Ukrainian government consultations at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, April 14, 2026. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen

Germany’s far-right AfD goes local to woo voters as Merz struggles

Ulrich Siegmund, top candidate of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt state election, speaks at a party convention in Magdeburg, Germany, April 11, 2026.

Germany’s Merz: I wouldn’t advise my children to live in US

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was speaking at a talk with youth during the 104th German Catholic Convention (Katholikentag) on May 15.

While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, May 4, 2026

Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, May 1, 2026.

German chancellor says he’s not ‘giving up on working with Donald Trump’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz looks on as he and Health Minister Nina Warken (not pictured) give a statement after a cabinet meeting at the Chancellery, in Berlin, Germany, April 29, 2026. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen

German Foreign Minister Wadephul, in call with Iranian counterpart, demands Hormuz reopening

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul demanded that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give up its nuclear weapons programme in a telephone call with his Iranian counterpart.

News analysis

Why Trump’s threat to pull even more US troops out of Germany is causing unease in Europe

US President Donald Trump (R) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz holding a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington DC on March 3.

News analysis

Trump’s threat to withdraw troops from Germany unlikely to be acted on for now

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House on March 3.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.