Germany (probably) next chancellor: “absolute priority to strengthen Europe (…) achieve independence from the USA

Translation:

+++ 21:22 Merz: We must achieve independence from the USA +++

CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz has declared his foreign policy goal to be independence from the USA. In the "Berlin Round" on ARD and ZDF, the CDU leader said: "For me, it will be an absolute priority to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can really achieve independence from the USA step by step." He did not think "that I would ever say something like that on a television program," he added. But after the comments by US President Donald Trump, it is clear "that the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe." He is "very excited to see how we approach the NATO summit at the end of June - whether we will even still be talking about NATO in its current form." Europe must establish an independent defense capability much more quickly, said Merz: "That is an absolute priority for me."