Posted on 02/25/2025 5:46:05 AM PST by MtnClimber
Election winner likens the Trump administration to Putin’s Russia as he bids to take Europe in a new direction.
BERLIN — Friedrich Merz did not even wait for the final results in Germany's election before delivering what could well be a defining verdict on U.S. President Donald Trump, consigning Europe's 80-year alliance with the United States to the past.
The Trump administration does not care about Europe and is aligning with Russia, said Merz, who is on course to become Germany's new leader. The continent, he warned, must urgently strengthen its defenses and potentially even find a replacement for NATO — within months.
Merz's comments mark a historic watershed: They reveal how deeply Trump has shaken the political foundations of Europe, which has depended on American security guarantees since 1945.
If he follows through on his rhetoric after assembling a new government in the coming weeks, Merz will steer Europe in a radical new direction at a critical time for the security of Ukraine and the wider region.
“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” Germany's chancellor-in-waiting said. “I never thought I would have to say something like this on a television program. But after Donald Trump's statements last week at the latest, it is clear that the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”
Merz, a staunch Atlanticist who has spent much of his professional career as a lawyer working with and for American firms, didn't stop there. Later this year, a NATO summit will be held — but he suggested Europe may need to devise a new defense structure to replace it.
“I am very curious to see how we are heading toward the NATO summit at the end of June," he said. "Whether we will still be talking about NATO in its current form or whether we will have to establish an independent European defense capability much more quickly."
Europe, alone
Such extraordinary statements from the likely next leader of Europe’s biggest economy are stronger than any head of government has made in response to the U.S. president’s 10-day onslaught against Europe and Ukraine.
On Friday, Merz suggested it was time to explore nuclear cooperation between France, the U.K. and Germany (and others) to replace the American nuclear umbrella that has guaranteed European safety from Russian attack. His speculation was anything but idle.
Merz's conservative alliance is projected to win the most seats in the Bundestag but will need to stitch together a coalition with at least one center-left party over the coming weeks.
Are they threatening to teach Trump a lesson by taking care of themselves?
Excellent. We should have left NATO decades ago. We should also remove all our troops from Europe. Our existential threat today is Red China. That’s what we need to be focusing on.
Once it became clear that 10,000 Warsaw Pact tanks would not be rolling into West Germany, NATO should have been ended.
It is now an institution in search of missions to stay relevant.
To borrow a phrase from leftists: bring the troops home now (from Germany)!
BTTT
Don’t threaten us with a good time, Fred!
That is it, exactly.
Allies don’t have to abuse one another. You can just be friends.
You don’t buy friends.
Fine! Eurotrash has been sucking off the US monies for DECADES! And, I think Trump ought to expel the United Nations as they are worthless and full of terrorists. Can you imagine if they were to repurpose the united nations property into high end condos?
if no one in it is actually willing to put boots on the ground to stop an aggressor what is the point. Might as well leave it.
Trump wins if the European countries want to end NATO.
I would think that it was obvious from the Ukraine fiasco that NATO is an albatross about America’s neck. America’s threat is China and through the Pacific. NATO nations in Europe won’t lift a finger.
The Belgians can go back to being chocolatiers.
Fred Merz? Really?
Don’t worry, Europe will always be there for us, when she needs us.
I believe Friedrich Merz could be a friend of the USA. This is a move in the right direction for Europe. Less funding from the USA.
The best thing about Europe is that it’s easy to catch a plane out of there.
Hah...joke’s on the EU. They have just been tricked into fully funding their defense and allowing the US to focus on the Homeland. If they dissolve NATO, they need to understand there will be no third time to save their bacon.
No, They are deciding to do what they must. Good.
And we will save a lot of money on defense!
They are angry obviously, and bitter.
Who cares? Do you?
As long as they do what he wants to, it’s a GREAT thing and I give them credit.
If they really do build a formidable military with REAL spending on it.
“The Belgians can go back to being chocolatiers.”
No need to remind you, that it must be “Halal” chocolate for the invaders. There are standards after all... /s
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