Trump to meet Merkel after campaign bashing

After accusing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on the campaign trail, of "ruining Germany" by welcoming refugees, US President Donald Trump will have his first face-to-face meeting with the German leader at the White House on Tuesday.

The two are expected to discuss strengthening the NATO alliance, collaborating in the fight against terrorism and taking steps to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, White House officials said Friday.

More broadly, Trump's first encounter will be aimed at building a personal rapport with a European partner who was among former President Barack Obama's strongest allies and international confidantes, according to the officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity despite the president's recent criticism of anonymous sources.

They are expected to discuss Germany's level of defense spending for the NATO alliance, the Ukraine conflict, Syrian refugees, the European Union and a host of other issues, said three senior administration officials who briefed reporters.

"My expectation is that they'll have a very positive, cordial meeting," said one of the officials.

Trump has long expressed a desire for warmer US relations with Russia but some of his top Cabinet officials are skeptical.

"The president will be very interested in hearing the chancellor's views on her experience interacting with Putin," said another official. "He's going to be very interested in hearing her insights on what it's like to deal with the Russians."

NATO and defense spending

White House officials said Trump would also discuss the need for NATO members to increase their defense spending.

"We are heartened by the German government's determination to reach NATO's benchmark of committing 2 percent of GDP to defense by 2024," the official said. "The president believes that all allies must shoulder their share of the defense burden."

In 2014 NATO's 28-member countries committed to reaching the spending target within a decade but only the US and four other members of the post-World War II military alliance are in compliance.

Trump referred to NATO as "obsolete" prior to his inauguration. But he has since told European leaders he agrees on the "fundamental importance" of the alliance.

Last month US Vice President Mike Pence reassured European leaders on the US commitment to NATO. German MEP David McAllister told DW that Pence's words were reassuring.

Many European allies have been rattled by Trump's positive statements about Putin and next week's meeting will come amid questions about Trump associates' connections to Russia.

Climate change

The White House said Trump and Merkel might also discuss the Paris accord on climate change. Trump vowed during his campaign to withdraw from the climate agreement, suggesting that global warming is a hoax created by the Chinese.

But the administration is still formulating its policy on the issue ahead of the G7 meeting in Italy in May.

bik/se (AP, Reuters)