(L-R) German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, German Minister for Agriculture Alois Rainer, German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer, German Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign Office Gunther Krichbaum, German State Minister for Culture and Media Wolfram Weimer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil arrive to pose for a family photo during a retreat meeting of the German cabinet on August 25, 2026 in Neuhardenberg, northeastern Germany. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

(L-R) German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, German Minister for Agriculture Alois Rainer, German State Minister for Culture and Media Wolfram Weimer, German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer, German Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign Office Gunther Krichbaum, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and German Minister for Digitalization and State Modernization Karsten Wildberger arrive to pose for a family photo during a retreat meeting of the German cabinet on August 25, 2026 in Neuhardenberg, northeastern Germany. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (4thR), German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer (5thL) and other members of the cabinet arrive to take their seats to pose for a family photo during a retreat meeting of the German cabinet on August 25, 2026 in Neuhardenberg, northeastern Germany. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

(L-R) German State Minister for Culture and Media Wolfram Weimer, German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer, German Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign Office Gunther Krichbaum, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, German Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building Verena Hubertz and German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan arrive to pose for a family photo during a retreat meeting of the German cabinet on August 25, 2026 in Neuhardenberg, northeastern Germany. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

(L-R) German Minister for Agriculture Alois Rainer, German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer, German State Minister for Culture and Media Wolfram Weimer, German Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign Office Gunther Krichbaum, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil arrive to pose for a family photo during a retreat meeting of the German cabinet on August 25, 2026 in Neuhardenberg, northeastern Germany. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

(L-R) German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, German Minister for Agriculture Alois Rainer, German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer, German Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign Office Gunther Krichbaum, German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, German Minister for Digitalization and State Modernization Karsten Wildberger, unknown and German Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building Verena Hubertz arrive to pose for a family photo during a retreat meeting of the German cabinet on August 25, 2026 in Neuhardenberg, northeastern Germany. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

(R-L) Chief of Staff and Minister for Special Tasks Nina Warken, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, German Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Baerbel Bas, German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer and German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan attend a two day retreat meeting of the German cabinet on August 25, 2026 in Neuhardenberg, northeastern Germany. (Photo by Liesa Johannssen / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

(R-L) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, German Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Baerbel Bas, German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer and German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan attend a two day retreat meeting of the German cabinet on August 25, 2026 in Neuhardenberg, northeastern Germany. (Photo by Liesa Johannssen / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)