President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have met after the U.S. leader publicly lambasted the longtime ally over its spending on national defense and a Russian oil pipeline.
Sitting down in Brussels, where both are attending a NATO summit, Trump described it as a "great meeting."
He saidthey discussed defense investment and trade, adding: "We have a tremendous relationship with Germany."
Merkel said she raised issues of migration and economic development with Trump.
Trump asserted earlier Wednesday that Germany is "totally controlled" by and "captive to Russia" because of a pipeline project. As the pair met alongside the main summit, Trump confirmed he had brought up the issue of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.
But Merkel nevertheless insisted Washington and Berlin remain allies, saying: "We are partners, we are good partners and wish to continue to cooperate in the future.
"I am pleased to have this opportunity to be here for this exchange of views," she said, through a translator.
"Indeed we have an opportunity to have an exchange of our economic developments on issues such as migration and also the future of our trade relations."
Trump, who has long criticised Berlin for not spending enough on NATO's mutual defence and for alleged unfair trade practices noted Germany's "tremendous success."
"And I believe that our trade will increase and lots of other things will increase, but we'll see what happens," he added, before reporters were ushered out of the room.
This report includes material from The Associated Press and AFP.