The symbolism is clear when Friedrich Merz kicks off his chancellorship with immediate trips to Warsaw and Brussels. This primarily promises increased German engagement in foreign and EU affairs.
The curiosity is great, not least around the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. A close German-French cooperation can give new momentum to the entire EU.
"France views Friedrich Merz as a partner with the same view on several key priorities. Merz appears more receptive to French proposals for European strategic autonomy and joint defense," states Camille Lons from the think tank ECFR in a dispatch.
The question is, however, whether Merz and Macron are strong enough at home to drive forward within the EU. That Merz was forced to a second vote in the German Bundestag to be elected clearly shows how thin the new government majority is.
Ukraine Support?
Merz has promised enormous defense investments and stated that all of Europe should be covered by France's and the UK's "nuclear umbrella".
That he directly from Paris continues to Poland is a sign that Germany also wants to be among the leaders in the question of aid to Ukraine.
Otherwise, it is Macron, the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Poland's Donald Tusk who have been most active lately.
"Germany has, in a striking way, been absent from these efforts in recent months. Germany will play a key role in ensuring that Ukraine can resist Russian aggression without support from the USA," writes ECFR's Poland chief Piotr Buras.
Border Dispute
At the same time, there is also a looming friction in the individual relations between Germany and Poland.
Merz's promise of a tougher migration policy also implies continued strict internal border controls against Poland – something that is not at all popular in the neighboring country.
The controls at the German-Polish border are already a problem for daily cross-border trade and the EU's internal market. It is difficult to explain to our citizens that while we invest in our external borders, we get stricter controls against us at the German border, said Poland's Berlin ambassador Jan Tombinski to Politico last week.
Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his new government can immediately look forward to a series of heavy international meetings.
* May 7: Merz visits France and Poland, new Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is expected at the EU's informal foreign minister meeting in Warsaw
* May 9: Merz visits Brussels
* May 14-15: Wadephul at NATO's informal foreign minister meeting in Turkey
* May 16: Merz at the top meeting with the European Political Community (EPC) in Albania
