(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)