German Chancellor-presumptive Friedrich Merz has criticized the US administration of Donald Trump, calling for German independence from the US following controversial remarks made by Trump about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Merz expressed concern about the fate of Europe under the current US leadership and advocated for a European defense capability to protect the continent.
Merz’s bold rhetoric comes despite his party, the CDU, receiving its lowest vote share in history during the federal election. He is in discussions to form a coalition government with the SPD, but differences on foreign policy, defense, and economic policy need to be addressed.
While Merz and SPD leader Olaf Scholz agree on the need to boost the German manufacturing industry, they differ on issues like defense spending and immigration. Merz wants to reactivate nuclear power plants and slash welfare spending, while Scholz supports changes to the debt rule to allow for borrowing.
Both leaders also differ on immigration policies, with Merz advocating for tougher measures to control migration. Despite these differences, the surge in support for the far-right AfD and the changing US stance on European defense have pushed Merz and Scholz closer together in a united front against the far right.
While Merz’s calls for European defense autonomy may face challenges, experts believe that increased defense spending could strengthen NATO and improve cooperation with the US. However, greater autonomy in security may also lead to political autonomy that could strain US-European relations. Ultimately, the debate on European defense autonomy is complex and could have significant geopolitical implications.
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