Munich Security Conference: Merz desires a brand new begin with the USA: “Together we are stronger” | EUROtoday

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has known as for a restart of transatlantic relations with the USA with a robust and largely unbiased European pillar. “If our partnership is to have a future, then we have to re-establish it in two senses,” stated the CDU chief in his speech on the opening of the Munich Security Conference. “This justification must be tangible, not esoteric. We must come to the conclusion on both sides of the Atlantic: we are stronger together.”

In order to attain navy independence for Europe, Merz can think about stronger European cooperation on NATO’s nuclear deterrent. He stated that he had began preliminary discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron. The CDU chief additionally emphasised that Germany would adhere to its authorized obligations. This consists of that it isn’t allowed to have its personal nuclear weapons.

NATO’s nuclear deterrent is at the moment primarily based largely on US nuclear weapons stationed in Europe – together with Germany. The solely two European nuclear powers are France and Great Britain.

The concept of ​​a European nuclear protect is controversial within the coalition. SPD Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed skepticism in Munich: “Why should we as Europeans have an interest in questioning this nuclear deterrence, which is guaranteed by the Americans and seems to remain so, through other activities,” he stated.

“A program of freedom”

The Merz speech was the beginning of a safety convention that would turn out to be one of the crucial essential in latest a long time. With greater than 60 heads of state and authorities and round 100 international and protection ministers, the world’s most essential high assembly on safety coverage is extra distinguished than ever earlier than.

It is the primary safety convention for the federal authorities of the Union and SPD. Merz had been making ready his programmatic speech along with his staff because the Christmas break and gave it the title “A Program of Freedom”. It is a response to the upheavals in relations with the USA within the first 12 months of US President Donald Trump’s second time period in workplace. The battle over the Danish island of Greenland brought about NATO to falter. In addition, there have been repeated tariff threats from Trump, profound variations within the understanding of democracy and freedom of expression and the USA’s disregard for worldwide establishments and treaties.

European response to US Vice President JD Vance

The speech can also be a response to US Vice President JD Vance, who disturbed European allies a 12 months in the past with sturdy criticism of the state of democracy in Europe. The transatlantic partnership has misplaced its self-evident nature, stated Merz. “A gap has opened up between Europe and the United States.” Vance “said this very openly” and he was proper.

Nevertheless, he continues to consider in free commerce, local weather agreements and the World Health Organization, stated Merz and emphasised that either side depend upon the transatlantic partnership. “In the age of great powers, the USA will also depend on this trust. Even they will reach the limits of their own power if they go it alone.”

The Chancellor reiterated that Europe can solely assert itself in a brand new world order decided by nice energy politics with financial and navy power in addition to political willpower. “A world where only power matters would be a dark place,” he stated. Europe’s biggest power stays in constructing partnerships, alliances and organizations which can be primarily based on regulation and guidelines.

New partnerships are supposed to make Germany extra unbiased

At the identical time, Merz introduced that it wished to forge new partnerships with a purpose to scale back dependencies on nations corresponding to China and the USA. “As important as European integration and transatlantic partnership remain for us, they will no longer be enough to preserve our freedom,” stated Merz. He made it clear that shared values ​​can’t be the one criterion for cooperation. “That is one of the lessons of these days, weeks and months.”

According to the Chancellor, Canada, Japan, Turkey, India and Brazil can play a “key role” for Germany as a accomplice in a brand new world order. He additionally named South Africa, the Gulf states “and others.” “We want to work closer together with these states, with mutual respect and perseverance.”

Merz meets the US Secretary of State instantly after his speech

The disaster in transatlantic relations and the brand new world order through which nice energy politics performs a higher position will most likely be the central theme of the Munich Security Conference. Shortly after his speech, Merz met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will converse on the safety convention on Saturday.

The large query is: Will he construct on Vance’s speech from final 12 months or will he method the allies a bit after the Greenland disaster. The Europeans are hoping for a dedication to NATO and, if potential, a transparent announcement concerning the retention of US troops and nuclear weapons in Europe.

Rubio: “Europe is important to us”

Before his departure, Rubio struck a conciliatory tone. “Europe is important to us,” he stated. The United States is deeply related to Europe and “our future has always been and will continue to be interconnected.” At the identical time, nevertheless, he stated: “That’s why we have to talk about what this future will look like.” The previous world not exists. We reside in a brand new period of geopolitics.

Merz additionally meets Trump opponents in Munich

The different America that opposes Trump can also be very strongly represented in Munich. Above all, the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, who is taken into account a potential presidential candidate of the opposition Democratic Party in 2028. Merz additionally desires to fulfill with the 58-year-old, which the Trump staff could not like. Shortly earlier than he left for Munich, he stated in response to a query: “I choose the people I want to talk to based on their interest and who I would like to meet and then the decision is made.” Also an expression of a brand new European self-confidence in comparison with the USA.