Friedrich Murch says there is no break with Donald Trump and stresses Germany’s leading role in NATO and the strengthening of the Bundeswehr.
At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and upheaval in transatlantic relations, the Chancellor of GermanyFriedrich Merz is taking a public position attempting to clarify Berlin’s stance towards the US and cooperation with Donald Trump, stressing that their disagreements do not constitute a rupture but part of an ongoing political dialogue, while highlighting Germany’s intention to strengthen its role within NATO, investing in upgrading the Bundeswehr and seeking greater strategic influence in European and international security.
“There was a disagreement, but I can live with it,” Chancellor Friedrich Murch said, referring to the recent dispute with US President Donald Trump, adding that the bilateral relationship has not been damaged and that he would continue to speak his mind.
I am striving for a good transatlantic relationship with the US
“I will continue to strive for a good transatlantic relationship with the US, even if we have different views on certain issues, such as Iran. I will continue to express my opinion to Donald Trump as well. The relationship has not been damaged, there has just been a disagreement. I will discuss it with him, we talk regularly on the phone,” the chancellor said in an interview with ZDF on the occasion of his country’s one-year anniversary as leader, adding that “a good partnership must be able to withstand a different point of view.”
Mertsch also reiterated his intention to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe: “We are on the way to achieving this. We are assuming leadership responsibility within NATO,” he said.Referring to Germany’s increased defense spending, he said he was impressed by the speed with which the German Armed Forces are making up for lost ground.
“We are increasingly losing credibility”
Asked about domestic developments and the low rating of his government a year after its formation, Merz admitted the governing coalition is increasingly losing credibility: “We are not living up to that expectation, even the one we set for ourselves,” he admitted, citing the areas of economic growth and the labour market as needing particular improvement. But he also identified problems in the understanding between partners. Compromises within the coalition “must not go so far that the CDU disappears,” he warned, but added at the same time that there was a “good working climate in the cabinet.”
The ruling parties “must aim to regain a majority,” the chancellor continued, making clear once again that he was not interested in pursuing other majorities in the Federal Parliament. “I want to succeed with this government,” he stressed, while also categorically rejecting the suggestion that the SPD had a blank cheque to push through whatever it wanted: “That is not possible,” he said, and also rejected the idea of a minority government, which he said “would bring deep division, not only in parliament but in society as a whole.”
“Decisions must be taken on the economy”
On the economic situation, Merts said decisions that had been neglected for ten years must be taken: “What has been neglected for ten years cannot be fixed in ten days. We are not a speedboat that you can just turn around and change direction. On the contrary, we are a big, heavy ship,” he said, adding that the government has not yet completed its task, but is on the right track. “We have achieved many times more than the previous coalition government did in three and a half years,” he stressed, citing “successes” on homeland security, immigration and basic income.
