From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 2, 2026
Germany’s Merz to discuss Mideast conflict with Trump during DC visit tomorrow
Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit Washington, DC, tomorrow and discuss “Middle East developments” with US President Donald Trump amid the current US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran, the chancellor writes on X.
I will speak with President Trump on the latest developments in the Middle East in Washington on Tuesday. I am in close contact with partners across Europe, Israel and the wider region. This is not the moment to lecture our allies, but to stand together in unity.
— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) March 1, 2026
“I will speak with President Trump on the latest developments in the Middle East in Washington on Tuesday. I am in close contact with partners across Europe, Israel and the wider region,” Merz writes. “This is not the moment to lecture our allies, but to stand together in unity,” he adds.
Merz’s visit, which was scheduled before the conflict began, will make him the first foreign head of government to publicly meet with Trump since the campaign began this weekend. Germany, along with France and the United Kingdom, has affirmed its readiness to participate defensively in the conflict, but has stressed it will take no offensive measures.
A European diplomat tells The Times of Israel that Europe is broadly hoping for a diplomatic solution, but condemns Iran’s targeting of civilians in Israel and stresses that it must end hostile activities.
“You have to look at how Israel is being targeted indiscriminately. Iran’s attacks are not about military targets. They target civilians, from Beersheba to Tel Aviv to Beit Shemesh. We want this to end in a deal, and we want this to end in a way that saves as many lives as possible. But it’s in Iran’s hands to do what is necessary: give up its nuclear weapons program, the ballistic missiles that threaten the region, and its hostile activities through proxies. And [to] stop killing its own people for demanding freedom,” the diplomat says.
The Times of Israel Community.