(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet President Donald Trump in Washington, with transatlantic trade and Nato ties high on the agenda.
Mr Trump has ruffled feathers in Germany by threatening its carmakers with tariffs and calling on Berlin to boost defence spending.
Mrs Merkel will be accompanied by top executives from German companies Siemens, Schaeffer and car giant BMW.
Her visit was scheduled for Tuesday but had to be postponed due to a snowstorm.
Ahead of Friday’s talks, Mrs Merkel told a German newspaper she was looking forward to her first meeting with President Trump.
