Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the winner of the recent national elections, stated on Monday that he would work to maintain strong ties with the United States under President Donald Trump but was also preparing for potential challenges.
Speaking at a press conference, Merz expressed his hope for a continued positive transatlantic relationship. “I hope that we can convince the Americans that it is in our mutual interest to maintain good transatlantic relations,” he said. However, he acknowledged concerns about the direction of US policy, adding, “As always, you have to deal with the worst-case scenario. All the signals we are receiving from the United States indicate that interest in Europe is decreasing.”
Merz revealed that he had a “lengthy” conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday evening as Macron prepared for his visit to Washington to meet Trump. “We discussed the topics he wants to address with the American president, and I found that there was complete agreement between what he wants to say and what I want to say,” Merz noted, emphasizing a united European stance on transatlantic ties.
Concerns in Europe have grown following Trump’s statements indicating a willingness to re-engage diplomatically with Russian President Vladimir Putin without involving European nations or Ukraine. Trump has echoed Russian narratives about Ukraine’s role in the war, raising fears that he could accept Moscow’s terms in future negotiations.
Adding to tensions, US Vice President JD Vance recently sparked controversy at the Munich Security Conference, where he criticized the European Union on issues including immigration and free speech, further straining relations between Washington and European leaders.
