Merz says US cannot “go it alone” amid great power rivalry

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for renewed efforts to repair strained trans-Atlantic relations, warning that divisions between Europe and the United States have deepened but can still be overcome.

During his speech at the Munich Security Conference, Merz emphasised that rebuilding trust must be a joint effort, urging both sides to recognise their shared strategic interests, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“A divide has opened up between Europe and the United States,” Merz said. “Vice President JD Vance said this very openly here in Munich a year ago. He was right. The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours.”

He argued that continued cooperation within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) benefits not only Europe but also the United States.

Near the end of the speech, which he delivered in German, Merz switched to English to address the U.S. administration directly.

“In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone. Dear friends, being a part of NATO is not only Europe’s competitive advantage. It is also the United States’ competitive advantage.”

Turning to global geopolitics, Merz spoke about intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing. He cautioned that China’s long-term strategic planning could soon translate into military parity with the United States.

Merz also offered a critical assessment of U.S. global leadership under President Donald Trump, suggesting it had weakened during his second term. He said that under Trump in his second term, the United States’ claim to global leadership “has been challenged, and possibly squandered.”

By Sabina Mammadli