# German chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet with US president Donald Trump today, hoping to build a personal relationship despite discord over Ukraine and the threat of a trade war. A month into his job, the conservative Merz will hope that his pledges to sharply increase Germany’s NATO defence spending will please Trump, and that he can find common ground on confronting Russia after the unpredictable US president voiced growing frustration with president Vladimir Putin.
German Chancellor Merz to meet US president Trump today