ברית צרפת-גרמניה מתחילה להתיחס בעקבות סכסוך בתחום המסחר וההגנה בעקבות מתחים עם ארה"ב

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met in Berlin to strengthen the Franco-German partnership, but their talks revealed persistent disagreements over defense cooperation, trade policy, and responses to US tariffs. While both leaders emphasized the importance of unity, divisions remain on key issues such as the joint fighter jet project and how to handle escalating trade tensions with the United States. The leaders set an August deadline to resolve their fighter jet dispute, signaling urgency but also ongoing friction. Their meeting comes as the EU prepares potential retaliatory tariffs against the US, highlighting the bloc's struggle to present a united front. Despite warmer personal relations, the Franco-German 'engine' that drives the EU is sputtering under the weight of unresolved policy differences.