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German Chancellor believes US alone cannot play leading role in the world

17 December 2025 05:00 (UTC +04:00)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the United States alone cannot play the leadership role it aspires to, and noted that he is trying to convince Americans that they need partners in the world, APA reports.

Merz emphasized that the new US National Security Strategy did not come as a surprise to him. "It's similar to Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, which also prompted me to make a course correction regarding the special fund and the Bundeswehr, simply because we needed to react," Merz said on ZDF television . He reiterated that a "tectonic shift is underway in the political and economic centers of power in the world."

"And I want Europe to play its role in this. That's why I strive for European unity. If anyone can do this, using their position, it's the German Chancellor," Merz said. He added that he was "trying to convince Americans that they, too, need partners in the world."

"America first" is certainly good, but "America alone" won't do America any good either. And besides, just look at the economic indicators in the US. I can imagine the Americans eventually turning to us and saying, "Wouldn't we like to talk again about some issues that benefit both of us, not just America?" the German Chancellor believes.

Merz noted that he takes the new US National Security Strategy seriously. "America wants to play its role, no doubt about it. Perhaps even a dominant one, no doubt about it. But it can't do it alone," the German prime minister concluded.