A few days before German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed the treaty in London, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte also paid a state visit to the UK that lasted several days, including a carriage ride with the royal couple and a state banquet. In a BBC interview, the chancellor also agreed with the US President when it came to European defense spending: "We know that we have to do more on our own and we have been free-riders in the past," he said. At the press conference with Starmer in London, Merz emphasized that the tripartite cooperation was not exclusive: "We're always bearing in mind Poland, Italy and the other also smaller European partners in whatever decision we take," he said.
Author: Christoph Hasselbach
Published at: 2025-07-19 19:41:00
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