Friedrich Merz meets with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen in Berlin

Published connected 12/06/2025 - 5:07 GMT+2•Updated 5:37

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen astatine nan Federal Chancellery successful Berlin connected Wednesday. Topping nan schedule for nan 2 leaders was Russia’s penetration of Ukraine, migration bilateral ties and world waste and acquisition and politics.

Commenting connected caller Russian attacks connected Ukraine, Merz stressed that anyone pinch a reasonably clear position must recognise that “Russia is simply a threat to nan security” of nan full NATO alliance.

As nan NATO leaders’ acme successful nan Hague nears, nan German chancellor emphasised that “Russia is simply a consequence to information connected some sides of nan Atlantic.” Merz noted that nan friends are group to talk a “historic” summation successful defence spending astatine nan acme successful ray of nan threat nan Kremlin poses to Europe.

“We will fortify nan European pillar of NATO together,” said Merz.

Frederiksen echoed a akin sentiment, arsenic she highlighted nan request to bolster nan continent’s defences arsenic quickly arsenic possible. “We person to rebuild our European Defence Industry and of people nan German Industry is cardinal for us,” said nan Danish leader.

“Rearm Europe, do it fast,” added Frederiksen.

The 2 leaders besides discussed immigration, wherever they expressed akin views regarding nan request to enforce stricter policies.

“We cannot judge everyone who wants to travel to Europe, it has to beryllium a antiauthoritarian determination who tin participate our antiauthoritarian societies”, said Frederikse.

Chancellor Merz praised nan migration argumentation of Denmark, saying “What Denmark has achieved successful caller years is genuinely exemplary and together we are besides moving towards caller and stricter asylum rules successful nan European Union.”

Regarding nan repatriation of migrants, Merz said noted that, if necessary, “there will besides beryllium corresponding changes to nan ineligible basis”.

Merz and Frederiksen besides said astir nan highly volatile and unstable world waste and acquisition environment, exacerbated by US President Donald Trump’s world tariffs, which person spiralled banal markets internationally.

The German leader welcomed nan announcement of a caller US-China waste and acquisition deal, aft nan 2 nations agreed connected a model of a caller woody to easiness tensions and resoluteness waste and acquisition disputes.

“I truthful invited nan truth that location has been specified an statement betwixt America and China, and I very overmuch dream that we will win successful reaching akin agreements pinch America, for illustration regarding tariffs, successful nan adjacent future,” said Merz.

The brace besides discussed nan ongoing threat to Greenland, aft Trump renewed his liking successful “taking ownership” of nan arctic island; an overseas territory of Denmark.

"The rule of nan inviolability of borders is enshrined successful world rule and is not up for discussion,” said Merz. “We guidelines intimately by our Danish friends connected these issues and will proceed to do so.”

Frederiksen erstwhile again changeable down Trump’s remarks, insisting that Greenland is not for waste and its sovereignty is non-negotiable.

"Sovereignty of states, nan territorial integrity, and by nan measurement nan early of Greenland tin only beryllium decided successful Greenland by nan Greenlandic people."

She added that she thought Trump was "serious" erstwhile it comes to Greenland "and I person to opportunity that truthful are we."

Additional sources • EBU, AP