The document was negotiated behind closed doors between the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats. Besides the chancellery, the CDU-CSU will lead the ministries of economy, foreign affairs, education and health,

Germany’s two major centrist parties have reached a coalition deal, the culmination of weeks of negotiations after the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) emerged as winner in February’s federal election.

Asked at a news conference if he had a message for Trump, Merz said in English that the country would meet its defense obligations and rebuild its economic competitiveness. “Germany is back on track,” he added.