German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced concern that Europe is failing to play the role it should on the global stage and must step up to properly defend its interests.
“What worries me, and I must admit weighs heavily on me, is the fact that we Europeans are currently not assuming the role we want in the world and that we must play in order to properly protect our interests,” Merz said in an interview for CDU.TV, the official media channel of his Christian Democratic Union party.
Merz pointed to the war in Ukraine as a clear example:
“Right now, we are not in a position to exert enough pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end this war. We are dependent on American support,” he stated.
At the same time, he noted that countries such as China, India, and Brazil are building new partnerships with Russia.
Despite his concerns, Merz welcomed signs of renewed European unity:
“This depends to a large extent on the commitment of the German government and, in this case, very much on the commitment of the German chancellor,” he added.
