Merkel's Visit to Washington to Meet Trump; JCPOA Among Discussion Topics

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, arrived in Washington on Thursday evening and is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump shortly. The Iran nuclear deal and the issue of Europe’s permanent exemption from U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel are reported to be key topics of discussion between the two leaders. According to German news agency, Merkel is set to meet Trump in his office at the White House on Friday morning Washington time, and they will have lunch together. Merkel's visit to Washington comes just days after French President Emmanuel Macron's discussions with Trump, although this meeting is said to be at a lower level than Macron's, which included a formal dinner and a speech at a joint session of Congress. After the three-hour meeting between Merkel and Trump, the leaders of Germany and the United States are expected to hold a joint press conference. The last time the German Chancellor visited Washington was on March 18, 2017, shortly after Trump took office. The two leaders have met twice since then during G7 and G20 summits. Regarding Germany's request for an exemption for Europe from new steel and aluminum tariffs, the German news agency noted that government sources in Germany are not optimistic about the possibility of extending this exemption after the deadline set for May 1. However, another deadline approaching in two weeks is Trump's deadline for amending the Iran nuclear deal. Trump, who has been a serious critic of the Iran nuclear deal from the beginning, stated last December that he expects U.S. allies to correct the 'disastrous flaws' of the JCPOA, otherwise he would not extend the suspension of sanctions on Iran and would even withdraw from the agreement. Both European leaders that Trump is hosting at the White House emphasize the importance of maintaining the Iran nuclear deal, although they have stated that they share concerns with the U.S. regarding Iran's missile programs and regional presence. Recently, France, Germany, and the UK proposed sanctions related to Iran's missile program and actions in Syria to the European Union, although this proposal has yet to gain the support of all EU members. According to the German news agency, the Syrian conflict is also expected to be part of the discussions between Merkel and Trump on Friday. Berlin did not participate in the recent missile attack by the U.S., France, and the UK on Syria, which occurred after reports of chemical weapon use against civilians in Douma, but it expressed its full support for the action. Additionally, the topic of the gas pipeline known as 'Nord Stream 2' between Germany and Russia, which Trump has criticized, may be raised during the meeting. The U.S. has previously stated that it views this project as a threat to energy security in Europe. Furthermore, Germany's defense spending, which is below the agreed level in NATO guidelines, could be another topic of discussion between the two parties.