berlin – Concerns over the future of the transatlantic alliance are growing within European political circles, as evidenced by recent remarks from a leading German opposition figure.Friedrich Merz, head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), publicly questioned the reliability of the United States under its current trajectory, advocating for a more self-reliant European foreign policy. This comes amid ongoing debate regarding U.S. commitment to a rules-based international order and represents a meaningful moment in the ongoing reassessment of European security strategies[[1]].
Germany’s leading opposition figure has voiced concerns that the United States is drifting away from a rules-based international order, a shift that could necessitate greater European independence. The remarks from Friedrich Merz, head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), reflect a growing debate within Europe about the reliability of the transatlantic alliance.
Speaking at a party event in Heddesheim, Baden-Württemberg, Merz argued that Europe must prepare to stand on its own feet. “We are seeing that our most important ally, which has been the USA to date, is moving away from a rules-based order,” he stated. This development underscores the increasing need for Europe to define its own strategic path.
Merz suggested that U.S. policy is increasingly driven by power and self-interest rather than international law. While acknowledging that former U.S. President Donald Trump could be criticized, he questioned the effectiveness of such criticism. “But what is the point of criticism if the person criticized does not react and believes that what they are doing is right?” he asked.
He urged Germany not to shy away from asserting its own interests in order to gain respect on the world stage. “We have to learn to stand up for our own interests if we want to be taken seriously,” Merz said, adding that “one must not bury one’s head in the sand.”
