Berlin Signals Shift as Merz Responds to New U.S. Security Strategy
“We are preparing ourselves for a change in transatlantic relations,” Merz said during a press briefing in Berlin. “But I would still like to see it as a partner, and I hope that the US sees it the same way with regard to Europe and also with regard to Germany.”
He emphasized that, despite upcoming adjustments, maintaining a cooperative relationship remains a priority.
The conservative head of government conveyed disappointment regarding the critiques and allegations aimed at European administrations within the strategy paper, though he acknowledged that the document’s tone was not “a big surprise.”
He pointed out that it reflected remarks made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year.
When questioned about U.S. President Donald Trump’s severe reproach of European leaders over their pro-immigration approaches, Merz noted that he and Trump had spoken about the issue several times since their initial encounter in June.
“I told the American president that we in Germany are pursuing a new policy on immigration and asylum law. I will tell him at the next opportunity, when we meet, that we are having great success with it," Merz explained.
He added that “we have been able to roughly halve the number of asylum seekers in Germany,” expressing confidence that Trump would “acknowledge that we have made a course correction in this area,” which he stressed had long posed a considerable strain for the country.
The updated U.S. national security strategy, unveiled last week, highlighted the Trump administration’s central foreign and defense priorities. It placed particular emphasis on the Indo-Pacific region and dismissed European leaders’ descriptions of Russia as an “existential threat.”
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