Short trip to Washington: Merz wants to know Scholz' reasons for the trip

Chancellor Scholz flies to Washington at short notice, where he wants to speak to the US President.

Short trip to Washington: Merz wants to know Scholz' reasons for the trip

Chancellor Scholz flies to Washington at short notice, where he wants to speak to the US President. A press entourage is not there this time, the federal government explains that it is only a "short working visit". CDU boss Merz suspects more behind it.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz of a lack of transparency in connection with his trip to the USA. "None of us in Parliament and in the German public knows the reason for this trip," Merz told the editorial network Germany. Scholz will be received by US President Joe Biden in the White House in Washington today, a one-hour conversation is planned. Press companions are - unlike usual - not on the trip. It was just a "short working visit," the federal government said in justification.

"Of course, the Chancellor has to talk to the American President regularly," said Merz. "But if he is obviously traveling to Washington at short notice, then the question must be allowed as to what purpose this serves," added the CDU leader. "A personal encounter must have a special reason. I don't know it."

The CDU leader expressed the suspicion that there might be "a problem to be solved" during the trip - namely with the delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine. "Because the Federal Chancellor declared a few weeks ago that he had now reached an agreement whereby the American government would also supply its own battle tanks to Ukraine. Now we have learned from the American President's security advisor in a television interview that this is not the case for the time being ."

Scholz has now arrived in Washington. The White House had just reaffirmed the good relationship between the United States and Germany. Support to Ukraine during the conflict has been closely coordinated, including announcements to supply armored personnel carriers and main battle tanks to Ukraine, said National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby.

Germany is an important NATO partner and has supplied Ukraine with crucial weapon systems such as the Iris-T and Patriot air defense systems, Kirby said. In addition to voting on further support for Ukraine, Scholz's visit to Washington will also deal with the upcoming NATO summit and the challenges posed by China. Biden and Scholz are expected to speak behind closed doors for about an hour, a senior government official said. A press conference after the meeting is not planned.