Published February 24,2025
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German conservative chief Friedrich Merz pledged to assist Europe obtain “real independence from the US” on defence in stark remarks hours after his centre-right CDU/CSU bloc received Sunday’s parliamentary election, making him the presumptive subsequent chancellor.
“For me, the absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can achieve real independence from the US,” mentioned the CDU/CSU chief.
“I did not think I would have to say this in a television programme, but after Donald Trump’s statements last week at the latest, it is clear that … this administration is largely indifferent to the fate of Europe,” added Merz, who has lengthy been seen as a champion of US-German ties.
Merz even went so far as to query whether or not NATO will proceed to be related in its present format, “or if we need to develop independent European defence capabilities much faster.”
“That is my absolute priority, and I have absolutely no illusions about what is happening in America,” Merz mentioned.
Merz took goal at Musk’s interventions within the German election marketing campaign, evaluating them to interference from Russia.
“The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately outrageous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow,” he mentioned. “We are under so much pressure from two sides that my absolute priority now really is to create unity in Europe.”
Source: www.anews.com.tr