'Merzcron': the recipe for relaunching the Franco-German axis

ParisWith the geopolitical upheaval brought about by Donald Trump's arrival in the White House, the rise of the far right in Europe, and the war in Ukraine, a politically strong Franco-German axis is more necessary than ever. All hopes of French President Emmanuel Macron are pinned on it. in the new German Chancellor, Friedrich MerzThe conservative, from the same party as former Chancellor Angela Merkel, the CDU, is a convinced Europeanist, and Macron seems to be much more in tune with him than with his predecessor, Olaf Scholz. It's customary for a new chancellor's first official trip abroad to be to France, but Merz traveled to Paris less than 24 hours after being appointed. It's quite a statement of intent.

Macron welcomes him with open arms, hoping that the new chancellor will provide a boost to a much-weakened Franco-German axis. Under Scholz, who had a distant personal relationship with the French President, the axis that has traditionally served as the political engine of the European Union had been practically erased, especially due to political differences following the war in Ukraine. "It's up to us to make the Franco-German engine and reflex stronger than ever," Macron wrote on X on Tuesday, congratulating the Bundestag on the election of the new chancellor.

Sources at the Élysée Palace speak of "resynchronizing" and "accelerating" the Franco-German agenda for the European Union. "It's a visit that aims to send a very strong and immediate signal that the Franco-German relationship is being relaunched," the same presidential sources emphasize regarding the two leaders. The last visit was just after Merz's election victory, and they have had the opportunity to demonstrate their harmony. Furthermore, the new chancellor has a very special personal relationship with France, a country where he spent his vacations as a young man. The French press is even referring to the political couple as Merzcron, just as he had beaten.

Acting hand in hand

Macron and Merz pledged this Wednesday to "respond jointly to the challenges facing Europe" and to "act hand in hand." In a joint press conference before lunch together at the Élysée Palace, both leaders championed the construction of a "more sovereign" and competitive Europe. "We will give new impetus to the Franco-German axis," the new chancellor promised. Faced with the threats facing Europe, both leaders announced the creation of a Franco-German "defense and security council" that will meet regularly to respond to "common strategic challenges." In fact, with Merz, Paris and Berlin are more aligned on defense issues, the European plan to increase spending and make the EU more independent.

Despite the rapprochement between Paris and Berlin with Merz's arrival, the two capitals maintain different positions on some important issues, such as security guarantees in Ukraine during a ceasefire or the nuclear issue. While France is realizing that it can no longer count on the United States to protect Europe or to ensure that Russia complies with peace agreements—when they exist—the new chancellor is maintaining the positions that Berlin had held until now, trying to maintain a balance between Atlanticism and Europeanism, despite the distancing from Europe that the US president is marking.

Atlanticist position

Berlin continues to maintain that the US must participate in security guarantees in Ukraine—although Trump has already rejected sending troops there—and that Europe must continue to count on Washington for the protection of the Old Continent within the framework of NATO. "It is important that the United States commit to security guarantees," Merz urged.

Paris's offer to share its own nuclear umbrella with the rest of its European partners was received coldly by Germany. Merz reiterated that Germany relies on Washington's protection despite Trump's warnings and that France should not replace the American umbrella. "I see the need to talk with France and the United Kingdom, but as a complement to the protection we already have with our American partners within the framework of NATO," the chancellor emphasized. Merz also does not seem willing to change Germany's anti-nuclear policy, which clashes directly with Macron's push for nuclear energy in France.

After the trip to Paris, the CDU leader traveled to Warsaw to meet with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former President of the European Council who shares Merz's pro-European character. The chancellor also wants to give new impetus to relations between Berlin and Warsaw after a period of estrangement between the two capitals during the Olaf Scholz administration. To complete the dialogue, Tusk will travel to France this Friday, where he plans to meet with the President of the Republic in Nancy and sign a treaty of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.