German Chancellor Merz Embarks on Week-Long Asian Tour to Strengthen Partnerships
Chancellor Friedrich Merz began a seven-day trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea, marking the longest overseas travel of his tenure.
Friedrich Merz departed for Asia on Monday, embarking on the lengthiest foreign assignment of his chancellorship and expected to return to Berlin late Friday. The German government describes Singapore, Japan and South Korea as “fate-sharing” partners confronting issues like trade disruptions and regional security threats. In Singapore, Merz will speak at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, echoing a lecture once given by Angela Merkel.
A German business delegation will accompany him, aiming to showcase German industry and attract investment. In Seoul, he will inaugurate a German-Asia-Pacific economic conference, and in Japan he is slated to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, highlighting Japan’s role as a key trade partner and a counterbalance to regional pressures.
Why it matters
The trip signals Germany’s push to deepen economic and security ties with key Asian economies amid global trade and geopolitical shifts.
How this story developed
- Oct 14 Merkel-era Chancellor Merz Defends Ukraine Aid Amid Calls for Domestic Reform
- Oct 18 AfD and BSW publicly called for stopping arms aid to Ukraine in Saxony‑Anhalt.
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