German Chancellor Friedrich Merz did not rule out common European Union borrowing for defence during a trip to Brussels on Friday, but said it must be for exceptional circumstances and voiced concern about rising global debt.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the lifting of all tariffs between the United States and the European Union in his first telephone call with US President Donald Trump. "I told him that I don't think it's a good idea to escalate this customs dispute,

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to arrive in Brussels on Friday for talks with top EU and NATO officials, marking his second foreign trip since taking office earlier this week. Merz is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte,