German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Berlin to address ongoing tensions in Franco-German relations, particularly concerning defense and trade issues. Despite warmer personal relations under Merz’s leadership, divisions remain, including disputes over the European fighter jet project, which Dassault has warned could be at risk amid a spat with Airbus. The leaders aimed to defuse these tensions and discussed the potential expansion of France’s deterrent capabilities against Russian aggression, though this is expected to be an evolutionary rather than revolutionary change. Additionally, Merz is facing domestic pressure to adopt a tougher stance on Israel.