WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
Choose language:
SOURCE:ANTENAM - AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Friedrich Merck, the potential new German chancellor and long-time supporter of transatlantic ties, said he now seeks security "independence" from the United States, and expressed doubts about the future of NATO, the alliance that has supported Western defense policy since World War II.
"For me, the absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the US in defense matters," Merck said on February 23 after his party won first place in Germany's parliamentary elections.
Merck, the candidate for chancellor of the opposition bloc of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), said he "has no illusions about what comes from America."
“After Donald Trump’s statements last week, it is clear that Americans are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe,” he said in a televised post-election debate with other party leaders, a traditional event following German elections.
“I am very interested in how we will proceed towards the NATO summit at the end of June – whether we will continue to talk about NATO in its current form or whether we will have to establish an independent European defense capability much more quickly,” Merck added.
In one of Germany’s most important elections, the CDU/CSU came out on top with 28.5 percent of the vote, according to official figures, but not enough to form a government on its own.
But in something that has probably caused great relief in many EU capitals, as well as within Germany, is that the results are likely to enable the mainstream parties to keep the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) out of government.
The candidates for coalition partners are Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left SPD, which lost almost ten percentage points compared to four years ago, winning 16.4 percent, and the Greens, who finished in fourth place with 11.6 percent. The AfD is second with 20.8 percent.
Scholz is likely to remain as interim chancellor until a new government is formed.
Despite recent tensions within the transatlantic alliance, US President Donald Trump welcomed the election results, posting on his social media account that the conservatives’ victory was “a great day for Germany.”
“Like the US, the people of Germany are tired of a common-sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration,” Trump wrote.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron – key NATO allies – congratulated Merck on his party’s victory and stressed the need for increased European security efforts.
"I look forward to working with the new government to deepen our already strong relationship, enhance our shared security and enable growth for both our countries," Starmer posted on the X network.
Macron, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on February 24, said: "This year we are more determined than ever to achieve great things together for France and for Germany and to work for a strong and sovereign Europe."
"In this period of uncertainty, we are united to face the great challenges of the world and our continent," he stressed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Merco, writing on social media that "Europe must be able to defend itself, develop its industries and achieve the necessary results."
"Europe needs shared successes, and these successes will bring even greater unity to Europe," he wrote.
Zelensky also said on Sunday that he was ready to give up his presidency to bring peace, saying he could do so in exchange for his country joining NATO.
“If there is peace for Ukraine, if I really have to leave my post, I am ready... I can trade it for NATO,” Zelensky said in Kiev, adding that he would leave “immediately” if necessary.
Following recent speculation about sending peacekeepers to Ukraine after a ceasefire agreement, Merz said it was premature to discuss such efforts.
“I see it the same way as the chancellor. It is not an issue at all at the moment,” said Merz, who has regularly supported continued aid to Kiev.
Scholz said on February 18 that talks about sending peacekeepers were “premature” and “highly inappropriate” while the war is ongoing.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is visiting Kiev on Monday and is scheduled to meet Zelensky, in a further sign of Europe’s support for Ukraine.
Trump has shaken America's traditional allies in Europe with his willingness to restore diplomatic ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, raising concerns that Europe - or even Kiev itself - will be marginalized in the process.
Trump has long complained that European countries do not spend enough on their own defense, often questioning the long-term viability of NATO itself.
In his post-election speech, Merz said: "Interventions from Washington's actions were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately scandalous than the interventions we saw from Moscow, referring to statements by Trump ally Elon Musk before the vote in favor of the far-right AfD.
"We are under so much pressure from two sides that my absolute priority now is to create unity in Europe," Merz added.
