The leader of Germany's winning party has pledged to lead Europe to independence from the United States.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), pledged to make Europe independent from the US, giving absolute priority to strengthening the EU.
According to Reuters, Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) party, is set to become Germany's next chancellor after his opposition conservative party won the parliamentary elections on February 23. Merz has pledged to help Europe become "truly independent" from the United States as he prepares to form a new government.
Mr. Merz, 69, is facing complex and protracted coalition negotiations after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party rose to second place for the first time in history in a deeply divided election.
Political parties have ruled out the possibility of cooperating with the AfD – a party that enjoys the support of many prominent American figures, including tech billionaire Elon Musk – a major ally of President Donald Trump.
Mr. Merz – who is set to become Germany's new Chancellor – will soon face a backdrop of Europe's largest economy struggling, a society divided over migration, and security caught between "an aggressive America and an assertive Russia and China."
Alliance leader Friedrich Merz deliberately targeted the US in his outspoken remarks following his victory, criticizing "utterly absurd" comments emanating from Washington throughout the campaign, comparing them to acts of Russian interference.
"Therefore, we are under immense pressure from both sides, so my top priority right now is to achieve unity in Europe. To be able to create unity in Europe," Merz said at a roundtable meeting with other leaders.
Merz's criticism of the US comes despite President Donald Trump welcoming the election results in Germany.
"Like the US, the German people are tired of the unreasonable agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has been in place for years," President Trump commented on Truth Social.
Mr. Merz said that President Trump is showing his administration is "largely indifferent to the fate of Europe" and that Trump was once considered an Atlanticist.
Mr. Merz added that, "the absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can gradually gain real independence from the United States."
He even questioned whether the next summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would still see "NATO in its current form."
