New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a reset in French-German relations to help Europe overcome the "enormous" security and economic challenges it faced during his first trip abroad since taking office to top ally France on Wednesday.

Traditionally, newly elected German chancellors make a point of visiting their big neighbors in the west and east on the first day in office to stress European unity. The stops in Paris and Warsaw are happening on the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War II.

The day after his dramatic election in parliament as German chancellor, Friedrich Merz set off on the first trip abroad of his administration on Wednesday, heading first for France and then Poland. In Paris,