Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, has signaled a dramatic shift in Europe’s relationship with the United States, calling for greater European military independence and even questioning NATO’s future.
Merz, whose party won the most seats in Germany’s recent election, criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for prioritizing ties with Russia over Europe. “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” he said.
He warned that Trump’s recent rhetoric—branding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “a dictator” and engaging in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin—suggests that America is disengaging from European security. Merz even compared Washington’s influence operations to those of Moscow, citing Elon Musk’s endorsement of Germany’s far-right AfD party as an example.
The German leader-in-waiting also floated the idea of nuclear cooperation between France, the U.K., and Germany to replace U.S. nuclear guarantees, suggesting that a new European defense structure may be necessary.
As Germany works to form a coalition government, Merz’s vision could mark a historic break in transatlantic relations.
Sources
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
