German chancellor urges stronger European defense role within NATO while opening talks with France on independent nuclear deterrent.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the United States and Europe to rebuild trust and avoid unilateral action during a wide-ranging address Friday at the Munich Security Conference, warning that Washington is “reaching the limits of its own power” if it attempts to act alone.
In a pointed speech focused on shifting global power dynamics, Merz cautioned against isolationist tendencies and emphasized NATO’s continued strategic value for both sides of the Atlantic.
“Dear friends, being a part of NATO is not only Europe’s competitive advantage. It’s also the United States’ competitive advantage, so let’s repair and revive transatlantic trust together,” Merz said.
He argued that in an era defined by superpower rivalry, particularly with China’s military expansion, the United States would need reliable European partners. Merz said Beijing could, in the foreseeable future, reach “equal footing” with the United States in military terms.
“The U.S. is reaching the limits of its own power, if it goes it alone,” he said.
Merz also disclosed that he has initiated discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron about the possibility of an independent European nuclear deterrent. He stressed, however, that any such arrangement would remain integrated within NATO structures.
“This will be fully embedded in our nuclear sharing within NATO,” he said.
The remarks come amid lingering tensions between Washington and European capitals. At the same conference in February 2025, U.S. Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized European governments for restricting speech and allowing mass migration.
Vance said at the time that Europe’s greatest threat was not external adversaries such as Russia or China, but “the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America.”
Addressing those comments, Merz acknowledged policy differences.
“Vice President JD Vance said this very openly here … a year ago, and he was right,” Merz said. “The culture war of the MAGA movement in the U.S. is not ours.”
Merz also pushed back against protectionist policies.
“We don’t believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade,” he said. “The freedom of the word ends here when this word is turned against human dignity and the constitution.”
He added that Germany would continue supporting international institutions and climate agreements, stating that global challenges require coordinated responses. “We are stronger together,” Merz said.
While advocating transatlantic unity, Merz acknowledged that Europe has relied too heavily on the United States for security.
“We won’t do this by writing off NATO—we will do it by building a strong, self-supporting European pillar in the alliance, in our own interest,” he said.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz echoed calls for greater European defense contributions during remarks at the conference.
“There is a cost to the status quo, and the status quo was not sustainable anymore,” Waltz said, arguing that European nations must shoulder more responsibility for their own security.
The broader backdrop includes recent strains between Washington and European partners over Greenland, a dispute that concluded Jan. 21 after President Donald Trump and NATO allies agreed on a framework to strengthen security cooperation in the Arctic region.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Munich for the conference, emphasized the need to adapt to rapid geopolitical shifts.
“The world is changing very fast right in front of us,” Rubio said in a video posted on X before departing for Germany. “The old world is gone, the world I grew up in. We live in a new era in geopolitics, and it’s going to require all of us to sort of reexamine what that looks like and what our role is going to be.”
Before boarding his flight, Rubio underscored longstanding ties between the United States and Europe.
“Most people in this country can trace both their cultural or their personal heritage back to Europe, so we’re deeply tied to Europe and our future,” he said.
While in Munich, Rubio also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before continuing on to Slovakia and Hungary as part of a two-day diplomatic visit.
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