Jessica Parker

#Germany will need up to 60,000 more troops under new NATO targets for weapons and personnel, according to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The government in Berlin has said it's aiming to create Europe's strongest conventional army.

How will Merz fare in the Oval Office...

Bernd Debusmann Jr @BernieDebusmann

New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is making a high-stakes trip to meet US President Trump - his first time in DC as the leader of the European Union's largest economy. ⁦⁦⁦@MarkerJParker⁩ in Berlin and I take a look at the visit here: https://t.co/RsFsIJxnCz

https://t.co/ageSxbJORa

Merz & Zelensky in Berlin. Press conference coming up with the two at any moment. https://t.co/bWwjypv0b7

#German Chancellor says there will no longer be "range restrictions" on weapons supplied to Ukraine. Kyiv should be able to defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia - Merz says. Does this mean Berlin is set to supply Taurus missiles to Kyiv?

Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz @bundeskanzler

Wir werden alles tun, was in unseren Kräften steht, um die Ukraine weiter zu unterstützen. Das bedeutet auch keinerlei Reichweitenbeschränkungen mehr für Waffen, die wir liefern. Die Ukraine kann sich jetzt auch verteidigen, indem sie militärische Stellungen in Russland angreift.

RT @BBCBreaking: Several people injured in knife attack at Hamburg railway station with suspect arrested, German police say https://t.co/M…

“We are ready to defend Europe’s freedom against any aggressor,” says German Chancellor Friedrich Merz - addressing a ceremony in Vilnius https://t.co/wwkVVgVm7m

German soldiers march through Vilnius to mark the establishment of a permanent brigade in Lithuania Locals are waving double-side flags 🇩🇪 🇱🇹 - & tell me they welcome troops who can help protect NATO’s eastern flank https://t.co/uRmGyoyLcz

🇩🇪 German military vehicles being proudly put on display, by the Bundeswehr, in Lithuania 🇱🇹 Would’ve been unthinkable not so long ago Comes as Germany is setting up a brigade here to help strengthen NATO’s eastern flank - following Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine https://t.co/EgaYRrY5x0

Doing more business with the #EU inevitably means doing more talking. In that regard, today is just the beginning. ⬇️ My analysis from Brussels ⬇️ https://t.co/a0LYWSIm7b

There is a *bit* of gloating going on in Brussels about #UK / #EU deal. One diplomat writes: "The deal is balanced—arguably with favourable terms for the EU—and simply shows that splendid isolation is not an option in today's climate."

"My dear Keir," says EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. (Don't forget she said "Dear Rishi" too)

RT @faisalislam: The return of freedom of movement….. For ferrets… and other pets. #petpassports https://t.co/LPi5vcNa3O

NEW: #EU #UK deal is out. It says they'll work towards: 🔹A 'balanced youth experience scheme' 🔹The association of the UK to the EU Erasmus+ programme 🔹Establishing a common SPS agreement

Quid pro quo. EU gets 12 year fishing deal and UK gets agri-food agreement. It was a direct trade-off, I’m told.

Jessica Parker @MarkerJParker

NEW: #UK #EU 🐟 #fishing deal to last until 2038 - according to two EU Diplomats. One source says it amounts to rollover of existing terms. This, I’m told, is current text. https://t.co/JMBN2zD05M

NEW: #UK #EU 🐟 #fishing deal to last until 2038 - according to two EU Diplomats. One source says it amounts to rollover of existing terms. This, I’m told, is current text. https://t.co/JMBN2zD05M

New German govt finally putting numbers on their pledge to increase defence spending. Yesterday, Chllr Merz said he wanted Germany to have the biggest conventional army in Europe.

Hans von der Burchard @vonderburchard

Germany intends to drastically increase its defense spending and reach 5 percent of GDP — in line with Donald Trump’s demand — Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says at NATO meeting in Turkey. This means an increase of annual defense spending to over 200 bn over the next years.