At the opening of the federal party conference in Stuttgart, Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz invoked the transatlantic alliance while simultaneously urging greater independence.
“Americans should remain our friends” he said, noting, however, that the United States itself is losing its interest in acting as a “reliable signaler”. He stressed that Germany must now adapt to this new reality.
Addressing the Ukraine war, Merz again warned against a policy of appeasement: “Those who follow naïve pacifism today are simply fostering the wars of tomorrow”. He also cited the Greenland dispute as an example that Europe can achieve something when it stands together.
Merz outlined the measures he sees as necessary. On one hand, he calls for increased investment in defence so that Germany cannot be blackmailed; on the other hand, he insists the economic strength of Germany-and Europe as a whole-must be rebuilt.