Skip next section SPD, Greens call on Merz to push Trump on Iran
03/03/2026March 3, 2026
SPD, Greens call on Merz to push Trump on Iran
Questions have emerged among German political parties over the US attacks on Iran ahead of Merz’s meeting with Trump.
Matthias Miersch, the general secretary of the center-left SPD that rules in a coalition with Merz’s own Union, said that the meeting offered an opportunity to ask Trump about the US “strategy.”
“For us it’s clear that, according to everything we know, at the moment, international law is not being abided by,” Miersch said. “And that must be stated, especially for states that are dependent on the continued existence of the international order.”
The SPD chief added that “no tears are being shed for the regime” in Iran.
The opposition Greens also called for Merz to request an explanation from Trump on his strategy.
“What is the strategy now? What does the future hold for the people in the Middle East?” Green parliamentary leader Britta Hasselmann said.
“We as Europeans must make it clear to the Trump administration that it is in our interest to stand together in the international community for a rules-based order for the rule of law, for democracy and also for international law for the future,” Hasselmann said, adding that the US-Israeli attack on Saturday had “no mandate under international law.”
US-Israel strikes on Iran ‘obviously not legal,’ lawyer says
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https://p.dw.com/p/59jyt
Skip next section Merz reportedly meets with business heads in Washington
03/03/2026March 3, 2026
Merz reportedly meets with business heads in Washington
Merz reportedly met with business representatives for a working breakfast in Washington, according to the AFP news agency, which cited government sources.
Both German and US companies were represented in the morning meeting. Among these were representatives from BMW, T-mobile, Boehringer Ingelheim, Honeywell and Boston Consulting Group.
The head of Lockheed Martin also joined the breakfast. Germany has ordered 35 F-35 fighter jets from the US defense giant.
https://p.dw.com/p/59jqx
Skip next section What has Merz said about the war in Iran?
03/03/2026March 3, 2026
What has Merz said about the war in Iran?
Friedrich Merz made his first public remarks on the US-Israeli attack on Iran on Sunday afternoon.
In a brief statement, he warned that the strikes carried significant risks, but he declined to call out violations of international law.
Here’s what Merz had to say:
Military strikes on Iran ‘not without risk’: Chancellor Merz
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https://p.dw.com/p/59jOE
Skip next section What has changed since Merz’s last visit to Washington?
03/03/2026March 3, 2026
What has changed since Merz’s last visit to Washington?
Friedrich Merz visited Donald Trump in the White House for the first time in June of last year.
While the chancellor said after the meeting that he was “extremely satisfied” with how they went, the talking points have, in many ways, not changed. The obvious exception is the war against Iran that broke out on Saturday morning.
But Trump’s tariff policies are once again on the docket despite the US and EU coming to an agreement last year. After the Supreme Court declared the tariffs illegal, Trump responded by declaring a new flat rate of 15% tariffs on all trading partners. As such, the EU has paused its ratification of the agreement as it waits to see what will happen with the new tariffs.
The war in Ukraine, now going on for more than four years, also remains a key yet unresolved issue. Trump has been much less supportive of Ukraine in comparison to his predecessor and to his European allies. Attempts to work out a peace agreement with Russia have proved fruitless, even as early versions of the agreement looked ready to concede swathes of land to Russia.
Another issue that gained prominence since their last meeting is the question of Greenland, which Trump has repeatedly, since his first term, said he wants to acquire for the US as a matter of security. This brought US-European relations to their lowest point, with some NATO members asking whether they would be called to war against the US should it attempt to take the semiautonomous Danish territory by force.
However, it remains to be seen whether Merz will bring up this thorny issue in his meeting with Trump. The talks have been scheduled to last for thirty minutes but will likely spill over.
Trump and Merz strike friendly tone at White House meeting
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https://p.dw.com/p/59jIv
Skip next section What to expect from Merz’s meeting with Trump03/03/2026March 3, 2026
What to expect from Merz’s meeting with Trump
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s inaugural visit to the White House was seen as a success back homeImage: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency/IMAGO
It is a trip that had been planned for a long time, but under very different circumstances: the chancellor will now meet with Trump amid an escalating conflict in Iran and the Middle East. Merz had a range of issues with him that have been turned upside down by current events.
Merz responded to the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Sunday by condemning Iran but has been cautious to express support for the attacks amid questions over their legality.
Read DW’s full report on how the war changes Merz’s plans in DC and what else to expect.
While you’re here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
https://p.dw.com/p/59jAs
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage03/03/2026March 3, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Thank you for joining us as we bring you the latest from Friedrich Merz’s trip to Washington, where he is set to hold talks with President Donald Trump.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is likely to top the agenda, but the two leaders will have plenty to discuss, including Trump’s tariffs, the war in Ukraine and the changing relationship between the US and Europe, especially after Trump’s push to take control of Greenland.
Keep reading for the top headlines, explainers and analysis.
For more updates from Germany, follow our Germany news blog, and for the latest from Iran, follow our live blog on the Iran war.
https://p.dw.com/p/59jA2
