WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced international crises on his first day in office today, calling on India and Pakistan to reduce tensions, pledging support for Ukraine and announcing plans to travel to Kiev soon.
Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron used their first meeting to present a united front in the face of US President Donald Trump's trade war, Russian aggression in Ukraine and other issues causing alarm in Europe.
At a joint news conference, Merz acknowledged that Europe still needs the US for peace in Ukraine, but the two pledged to strengthen European security and increase defense spending.
"It is our firm belief that we cannot end this war in Ukraine without further political and military engagement by the US," Merz said. "The Europeans cannot replace that at the moment."
France and Germany, with the largest economies and populations in the EU, have long been the bedrock of the bloc, but they have lost some of their strength in recent months as leaders in both countries have grappled with domestic issues.
Macron said Russia was a “systemic threat” to European security and said France and Germany would “accelerate” defense cooperation. He cited joint work on tanks, long-range missiles and fighter jets.
He also said the countries would start regular meetings of a Franco-German defense council and jointly develop new defense technologies “essential for the wars of tomorrow.”
Merz and Macron — who has called his German counterpart “cher Friedrich” (dear Friedrich) — are hoping to give a new boost to relations at a crucial time as Trump and Putin pressure the EU to rethink its own security.
The two also jointly called on Israel to allow humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Mertz said it was an "obligation" and called on Israel to be "more responsible," which is striking given Germany's past and present support for Israel.
