Friedrich Merz is on course to become Germany's 10th post-World War II chancellor, the culmination of a long political career that was once sidelined by his party’s iconic leader, Angela Merkel.

The agreement was concluded relatively quickly but still took about six and half weeks, during which the country had been virtually rudderless at a critical moment for Europe.

By Andreas Rinke BERLIN (Reuters) -German conservatives under Friedrich Merz agreed a coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Wednesday, aiming to revive growth in Europe's largest economy just as a global trade war threatens recession.

Germany's conservatives under Friedrich Merz reach a deal with the Social Democrats to govern Europe's biggest economy.

Merz, who called the US an unreliable ally, has already vowed to build up defence spending as Europe faces a hostile Russia.

Germany's conservatives under chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz on Tuesday reached a deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) to form a government, NTV reported.