Friedrich Merz

"The current line of contact should serve as the starting point for negotiations."

"developing a crewed sixth-generation fighter jet still makes sense for his country’s air force"

"Merz has openly questioned whether developing a manned sixth-generation fighter jet still made sense for his country’s air force."

"Der Bau eines gemeinsamen Flugzeugs „nicht fortgesetzt wird“."

"Ils reconnaissent cette réalité. Le chancelier fédéral Merz a donc suggéré au président Macron de ne plus poursuivre la construction d'un avion de combat commun."

"Merz habe Macron daher nahegelegt, den Bau des Kampfflugzeugs nicht weiterzuverfolgen."

"The core of FCAS will remain as a European system."

""Will we still need a manned fighter jet in 20 years' time?""

"I found him to be very cooperative, and I also saw him listening very attentively."

"I expect it, but above all, I hope it will be successful, and I want to try to make it clear to the American government that tariffs harm everyone."

"The biggest poison for the economies of Europe and the U.S. is this constant uncertainty about tariffs. And this uncertainty must end."

"I expect it, but above all, I hope it will be successful, and I want to try to make it clear to the American government that tariffs harm everyone."

"The biggest poison for the economies of Europe and the US is this constant uncertainty about tariffs. And this uncertainty must end."

"We will have a very clear European position on this, because customs policy is a matter for the European Union, not for individual member states."

"For me, there is a reassuring element in yesterday's Supreme Court decision: the separation of powers in the US still seems to be working."

"The biggest poison for the economies of Europe and the US is this constant uncertainty about tariffs."

"I expect it, but above all, I hope it will be successful, and I want to try to make it clear to the American government that tariffs harm everyone."

"The biggest poison for the economies of Europe and the US is this constant uncertainty about tariffs. And this uncertainty must end."

"I expect it, but above all, I hope it will be successful, and I want to try to make it clear to the American government that tariffs harm everyone."

"The biggest poison for the economies of Europe and the U.S. is this constant uncertainty about tariffs. And this uncertainty must end."

"I expect it, but above all, I hope it will be successful, and I want to try to make it clear to the American government that tariffs harm everyone."

"The biggest poison for the economies of Europe and the U.S. is this constant uncertainty about tariffs. And this uncertainty must end."

"We must supply this country with electricity. I am not prepared to jeopardise the core of our industry simply because we have adopted phase-out plans that have become unrealistic."

"This country, under this leadership, is currently at the lowest point of utter barbarity."

""We want a partnership with China that is balanced, reliable, regulated and fair.""

"We know that signals from Beijing are taken very seriously in Moscow. That goes for words as well as deeds."

"I would like to expressly welcome China's commitment to peace in the region, which I heard today."

"China stands ready to work with Germany to enhance understanding and mutual trust."

"we need business ties in the whole world, and that of course also includes a country like China."

"China is an important trading partner for us, so I will go to China next week with a large business delegation."

"we should have no illusions about China, which asserts the claim to define a new multilateral order according to its own rules."

"a new world order, an order of great powers, is taking shape at high speed."

"Foreign policy today is also foreign economic policy, and foreign economic policy is an essential part of our economic policy."

"May the Year of the Horse bring strength and give new impetus to German-Chinese relations."

"Today, China is deliberately distancing itself from the United States and asserting its claim to define a new multilateral order according to its own rules."

"Germany wants a partnership with China that is balanced, reliable, regulated and fair."

"Our message from a European point of view is the same: We want partnership with China balanced, reliable, regulated and fair."

"The number of sick days in Germany is too high."

"Israel had done the 'dirty work' to slow Iran's nuclear program."

"We are trying to convince Spain to catch up."

"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke about the war in th..."

"We are trying to convince them that this is a part of our common security, that we all have to comply with this."

"I told Trump very clearly that he could not conclude a separate trade agreement with Germany or all of Europe but not with Spain."

"We are trying to convince them that this is a part of our common security."

"An endless war is not in our interest."

"The Iranian state must remain functional, and public order and basic services must be maintained. The Iranian economy must not collapse."

"An endless war is not in our interest. The same applies to a collapse of Iranian statehood or proxy conflicts fought on Iranian soil."

"We share the goals of the United States and Israel regarding the Iranian nuclear and missile programme, Tehran's threats against Israel, its support for terrorism and proxies."

"We do not want to see a Syrian scenario here."

"And that is why I am appealing both in Washington and in all talks with the Israeli government to create the conditions for this country to be stabilised as quickly as possible."

"Such scenarios could have far-reaching consequences for Europe."

"The Iranian state must remain functional, and public order and basic services must be maintained."

"Credibility is the highest asset in politics."

"the decision was 'wrong'."

"dirty work Israel is doing for all of us"

"Germany and Europe have lost one of the most significant thinkers of our time."

"His sociological and philosophical work had an impact on generations of researchers and thinkers."

"His voice will be missed."

"Alemania y Europa han perdido a uno de los pensadores más significativos de nuestro tiempo."

"It is a gross act of disloyalty within the European Union."

"heinous attack"

"These extremists have no place in our society."

"Looking ahead over the next three years – as Sharaa has expressed his hope – around 80% of Syrians currently residing in Germany are expected to return to their home country."

"In the longer perspective of the next three years, that ... was the wish of President al-Sharaa, about 80% of the Syrians currently living in Germany should return to their homeland."

"We have an interest in those who live here, want to stay and are well-integrated … that these people stay in Germany."

"In der längeren Perspektive der nächsten drei Jahre, das sind auch, ist der Wunsch von Präsident Scharaa gewesen, sollen rund 80 Prozent der in Deutschland jetzt sich aufhaltenden Syrerinnen und Syrer zurück in ihr Heimatland kehren."

"We have an interest in those who live here, want to stay and are well-integrated ... that these people stay in Germany. But many who are here are needed at home."

"I demand that Morocco take back illegal migrants immediately."

"No es la primera vez que hace esto, y dado que es un fenómeno recurrente, probablemente puedan juzgar las consecuencias por sí mismos."

"In the event of an emergency, we must know who may be staying abroad for an extended period."

"In the event of an emergency, we must know who may be staying abroad for an extended period."

"military service would remain voluntary for the time being."

"The coalition is doing all it can to 'address problems caused by Iran - war, which has been 'put on hold in the meantime, as part of a fragile ceasefire agreement."

"We will work energetically together to build a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe."

"I was very grateful and relieved by the results."

"industrial AI needs less stringent EU regulation"

"the sky won't fall in"

"deeply shocked by the result, describing it as seismic."

"You are and will remain a destructive force."

"ethnic cleansing in the skilled trades based on skin colour and origin."

"At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement; at some point, hopefully, a peace treaty with Russia. Then it may be that part of Ukraine’s territory is no longer Ukrainian."

"Zelenskiy had the idea of joining the EU on January 1, 2027. That will not work. Even January 1, 2028 is not realistic."

"At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement; at some point, hopefully, a peace treaty with Russia. Then it may be that part of Ukraine's territory is no longer Ukrainian."

"Zelenskiy had the idea of joining the EU on January 1, 2027. That will not work. Even January 1, 2028 is not realistic."

"At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement; at some point, hopefully, a peace treaty with Russia. Then it may be that part of Ukraine's territory is no longer Ukrainian."

"Zelenskiy had the idea of joining the EU on January 1, 2027. That will not work. Even January 1, 2028 is not realistic."

""At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement; at some point, hopefully, a peace treaty with Russia. Then it may be that part of Ukraine's territory is no longer Ukrainian.""

""Zelensky had the idea of joining the EU on January 1, 2027. That will not work. Even January 1, 2028, is not realistic.""

"At some point, Ukraine will sign a ceasefire agreement; at some point, hopefully, a peace treaty with Russia. Then it may be that part of Ukraine’s territory is no longer Ukrainian."

"He said that Zelensky’s idea of joining the EU on January 1, 2027 would not work, and that even January 1, 2028 was unrealistic."

"the Americans clearly have no strategy"

"We maintain close and trusting contact with our partners, including—and especially—those in Washington."

"The Americans clearly have no strategy, and the problem with conflicts like this is always that you don’t just have to go in; you also have to get out again."

"The problem with conflicts like this is always you don’t just have to get in – you have to get out again."

"From my perspective, my personal relationship with the US President remains good. I simply had doubts from the start about what was begun with the war in Iran. That is why I have made that clear."

"In Germany and Europe, we are suffering from the consequences, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This has a direct impact on our energy supply and a huge impact on our economic performance."

"simply had doubts from the start about what was begun with the war in Iran."

"An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible."

"The United States is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership."

"the United States is being humiliated by Iran's negotiating tactics."

"From my perspective, my personal relationship with the ​U.S. president remains good."

"The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating."

"I will carry on."

"The AfD is a destructive force."

"Germany's political landscape needs stability."

"the Americans clearly have no strategy"

"the Iranians were humiliating the U.S. in talks to end the two-month-old war and that he did not see what exit strategy Washington was pursuing."

"the Iranians were humiliating the U.S. in talks to end the two-month-old war"

"I had conveyed my skepticism about the conflict directly to Trump afterwards."

"the U.S. was being 'humiliated' by the Iranian leadership and criticized Washington’s lack of strategy in the war."

""the Americans clearly have no strategy"."

"The reforms have to come. I am taking on this responsibility, because I want to move our country forward."

"We are determined to live up to the historic challenges our country is facing."

"This election is a profound turning point. It is a dramatic, unprecedented result for the CDU in Germany."

"the Americans clearly have no strategy"

"We are really willing to keep this alliance alive for the future."

"Our final goal is to bring this conflict to an end and to guarantee that Iran is not able to produce nuclear weapons."

"We are particularly concerned that there is clearly no joint plan for bringing this war to a swift and convincing end."

"This affects our security, our energy supply, and possibly also the situation surrounding migration."

"Europe wants a strong NATO and shares the US goal of ending the Iran war."

"The U.S. appeared to lack a clear exit strategy in Iran and that Tehran had 'humiliated' Washington in peace talks."