France, May 7 -- French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed Wednesday to ramp up defence cooperation as the new German leader visited Paris on his first trip abroad.

Europe is seeking to boost its defences amid Russia's war against Ukraine and doubts over US security commitments to Europe under President Donald Trump.

"We will set up a French-German defence and security council to meet regularly to bring operational responses to our common strategic challenges," Macron said at a joint press conference.

Merz, who became chancellor on Tuesday, is a committed European, transatlanticist and Ukraine supporter who has pledged to restore Germany's role on the world stage after half a year of paralysis....