Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has declared a seismic foreign policy shift, vowing to pursue independence from the U.S. following Donald Trump’s threats to abandon European security guarantees. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader made the announcement hours after exit polls confirmed his party’s 28.6% victory in Germany’s 2025 federal elections.
My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe... we can achieve independence from the USA,Merz stated during a televised debate, marking the first explicit call for decoupling from Washington in modern German history. The remarks follow Trump’s renewed demands for NATO allies to fund their own defense, with former adviser Mike Waltz arguing:
It’s time for our European allies to step up.
Key developments shaping this geopolitical turning point:
- CDU secures 28.6% vote share, SPD trails at third place
- Far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) becomes second-largest party with 22.1%
- Trump administration pushes for Europe to finance Ukraine war efforts
Merz suggested NATO might need replacement by a European defense capability, stating: Whether we’ll still talk about NATO... or establish independent security structures is now urgent. The proposal comes as AfD leader Alice Weidel celebrated her party’s historic result bolstered by Elon Musk’s public endorsement.
Analysts warn Merz’s strategy risks fracturing transatlantic relations while empowering nationalist factions. With AfD doubling its 2023 vote share and Trump leading U.S. polls, Germany faces unprecedented pressure to redefine its global alliances before June’s critical NATO summit.
