Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are still committed to a close Franco-German approach to international issues. At a meeting on Thursday evening in Paris, the two discussed the situation in Afghanistan and European relations with neighboring countries in the east. Macron emphasized that a coherent European line was also necessary in the Sahel in Africa, Libya and Iran. A particular focus was the situation in Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, which have taken in people from the crisis country, want to support Merkel and Macron. The president also said there would be continued efforts to get Europeans and threatened Afghans out of the country. The Chancellor assured Macron that Germany would remain a reliable partner during the transition period after the federal election. For its part, France is counting on a strong player in Berlin for Europe.