President Donald Trump has reiterated his strong support for NATO and pressed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to meet NATO's military spending target, in the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders.
The meeting between the leader of Europe's largest economy and the US president was billed as one that could help determine the future of the transatlantic alliance and shape their working relationship.
"I reiterated to Chancellor Merkel my strong support for NATO as well as the need for our NATO allies to pay their fair share for the cost of defence," Trump said at a joint news conference with Merkel on Friday.
Merkel said she told Trump Germany needs to meet NATO spending goals. The two also discussed Ukraine and Afghanistan.
Trump said he expected the US to do "fantastically well" in trade with Germany, while Merkel said she hoped the US and the EU could resume discussions on a trade agreement. Trump said he did not believe in isolationism but that trade policy should be fairer.
"We held a conversation where we were trying to address also those areas where we disagree, but we tried to bring people together ... [and] tried to find a compromise that is good for both sides," Merkel said.
On immigration, another issue dividing the veteran chancellor and the new US president, Trump said immigration was a "privilege" and not a "right".
Trump brushed off questions about his claims without evidence that his predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama, wiretapped him during last year's presidential campaign.
Trump said, "At least we have something in common," apparently referring to reports during Obama's presidency that the US bugged her phone. Congressional leaders from both political parties say they do not believe Trump was wiretapped.
Earlier, the new US president greeted the long-serving stateswoman at the White House with a handshake before they began talks in the Oval Office.
As a presidential candidate, Trump criticised Merkel for allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees into Germany. At the news conference, Merkel hinted at differences, saying: "This is obviously something we had an exchange of views about."
