Merz in Washington for Talks with Trump
Skip next section Welcome to our Germany coverage March 2, 2026 Welcome to our Germany coverage The DW newsroom welcomes you with a warm Guten Tag at the start of a new week!
March 2, 2026
Guten Tag — welcome to our Germany coverage.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Washington for his second formal visit to the United States. His meetings with President Donald Trump are expected to concentrate primarily on the unfolding crisis in the Middle East, particularly recent US‑Israeli actions involving Iran.
The Iran situation has pushed many agenda items to the background, but the two leaders may also address lingering disagreements on US‑EU tariffs and differing approaches to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Those topics remain important to Berlin‑Washington relations, even if they take a secondary role this week.
Back home, two of Germany’s largest automakers are due in the country’s highest court on Monday to face a legal challenge from an environmental group seeking to ban the sale of new combustion‑engine vehicles from 2030 onward. The case could have major implications for the auto industry and Germany’s climate goals.
A recent survey further highlights changing habits at home: Germany now ranks second only to Italy in the share of people using social media.
Read on for more developments affecting Germany on March 2, 2026.