If Friedrich Merz follows through on his recent rhetoric while forming his new government in the coming weeks, Europe could be heading in a radically different direction at a crucial moment for Ukraine’s security and regional stability.
“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as fast as possible so that, step by step, we can achieve real independence from the United States,” Germany’s incoming chancellor stated. “I never imagined I would say something like this on television. But after Donald Trump’s statements last week, it has become evident that a significant portion of the American administration is largely indifferent to Europe’s fate.”
Merz, a long-time Atlanticist with a professional background in law—often collaborating with American firms—went further with his remarks. With a crucial NATO summit scheduled later this year, he hinted that Europe might need to establish a new defense framework, potentially moving beyond NATO’s current structure.
“I am very curious to see how we approach the NATO summit at the end of June,” he said. “Will we still be discussing NATO in its current form, or will we need to build an independent European defense capability far more rapidly?”
A Europe Standing Alone
The likely next leader of Europe’s largest economy has issued the most forceful response yet to the U.S. president’s recent remarks, which have shaken confidence across Europe and Ukraine.
On Friday, Merz took his vision a step further, suggesting that Europe should consider nuclear cooperation among France, the U.K., and Germany—along with other potential partners—to replace the American nuclear umbrella, which has long safeguarded Europe from potential Russian aggression. His comments were far from speculative—they signaled a potential shift in Europe’s defense strategy.
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