Merz dashes to Paris for surprise talks with Macron as security fears weigh on EU

BERLIN — Friedrich Merz, Germany’s incoming chancellor, is set to travel to Paris on Wednesday for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to four officials with direct knowledge of the visit.

Macron briefed European leaders in a confidential video call earlier Wednesday about his recent discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, which reportedly covered U.S.-EU trade relations, NATO’s future and security challenges in Eastern Europe.

Concerns are growing in Europe about the continent's security architecture, underpinned for decades by the United States, as the Trump White House looks set to pivot away from supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The Paris meeting marks Merz’s first foreign visit since his party’s strong showing in Germany’s federal election on Sunday, which positioned him as the likely next chancellor.

A spokesperson for the Christian Democratic Union, Merz's party, declined to confirm the meeting when contacted by POLITICO. However, according to three officials familiar with the matter who were granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, the visit is expected to cover the political situation in Germany following the election and ongoing coalition negotiations, as well as transatlantic relations as a follow-up to Macron’s talk with Trump.

Merz won Germany's snap election on Sunday, as the country tilted to the right following a bitter election campaign.

Giorgio Leali contributed to this report. This story is being updated.