Friedrich Merz, the leading candidate for the chancellery in Germany's upcoming election, said a leaked briefing by Germany's ambassador to the United States heavily criticising Donald Trump was damaging to the German government's reputation.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, tipped to become the next chancellor, said on Thursday he wanted to win back the lost trust of key allies and ensure Berlin is more assertive on the global stage in a speech laying out his foreign policy plans.

Germany's conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz, frontrunner in polls to become the next chancellor, on Tuesday urged a united European stance in talks with US President Donald Trump. Merz also said Germany needed to get Poland "at the table as fast as possible" and praised Meloni of the post-fascist Brothers of Italy party,

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, tipped to become chancellor in next month's election, said on Tuesday U.S. President Donald Trump could prove an interesting partner for Europe provided the region had a strong common negotiating position.

Friedrich Merz, a top candidate for German chancellor, criticized a leaked briefing by Germany's U.S. ambassador that condemned Trump's policies. The briefing, reported by Reuters, challenges Trump's democratic principles and media independence.

While leading German politicians fear the worst from Trump's second presidency, German parties are taking very different approaches to him. The far-right AfD is delighted, and was even invited to Trump's inauguration.

Donald Trump's return to the White House has darkened the mood in Germany a month before elections, as multiple crises shake the foundations on which Europe's biggest economy built its

Germany's election frontrunner says Europeans are waiting for Germany to take the lead on dealing with the new American president.

The front-runner to become Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has called for a common European strategy in view of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in just over a week. Merz,

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz sees potential in collaborating with U.S. President Trump, advocating for a strong European negotiating stance. His call for unified military purchases faces challenges from France's defense industry.

BERLIN - Ukraine must win the war against Russia, regain lost territory and be free to join military alliances, Mr Friedrich Merz - favourite to become Germany’s next chancellor - said on Jan 23. Mr Merz said he wants peace in Ukraine but not “at the price of submission to an imperialist power” and stressed that “Ukraine must win the war”.

President Donald Trump called on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to lower oil prices during the World Economic Forum on Thursday, saying it would immediately end the war in Ukraine.