President Trump met Friday with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, giving updates on several key issues facing the two countries, and other critical foreign policy issues. Here are the biggest stories coming out of their joint press event.
- President Trump congratulated the leaders of North and South Korea after a historic summit and said his meeting with Kim will be in the “coming weeks.” The president promised that a “maximum pressure” campaign will continue “until denuclearization occurs.” North and South Korea pledged an official end to the decades long Korean War.
- President Trump pressed the Germans and other NATO allies to increase their defense spending. The chancellor pledged to be a reliable partner, but acknowledged Germany’s shortfall, at only 1.3 percent of GDP of the pledged 2 percent.
- President Trump also remarked that the World Trade Organization has treated the U.S. poorly. He calls for “fair and reciprocal trade relationships with our friends and allies.” He told the German leader directly that it wasn’t her fault, but America seeks to lower the trade deficit, for which Trump lays blame on previous administrations.
- The president said he may attend the opening of the new embassy in Jerusalem in May. He stated that he was able to reduce the cost of construction from $1 billion to $3-400,000.
- President Trump says he won’t discuss the use of military force, but he decisively warned Iran: “They are not going to be doing nuclear weapons. You can bank on it.”
Source: Associated Press, via Boston.com
