Mertz: New US strategy forces Europe to strengthen its own defence
Europe must strengthen its defence against the backdrop of the new US security strategy and the actions of the US government. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this in Berlin after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. According to him, Washington's document confirms the correctness of the course of Germany and other EU countries to increase defence investments, which is necessary to protect the freedom and security of Europeans.
Mertz noted that at the NATO summit in The Hague it has already become clear that the United States is critical of a number of aspects of European policy. He also emphasised that Washington does not perceive the EU as a coherent institution and acknowledged the difficulty of explaining the history and nature of European integration to the US leadership.
Nevertheless, Berlin is ready to cooperate with the US where it is in Europe's interests, in particular in working towards a peaceful settlement of the war against Ukraine and strengthening the European component of NATO. The Chancellor warned that Europe will face difficult years, but expressed confidence that the continent will remain united even under pressure.
Merz also said that Ukraine is fully funded for the first quarter of 2026, but further needs remain significant. Germany has budgeted fifteen billion euros to support Kyiv in 2026, and no additional funds are being considered. The only possible new element could be guarantees for the use of frozen Russian assets.
The Chancellor expects a final EU decision on the mechanism at the next European Council on 17 or 18 December. He noted that if necessary, the meeting will be extended until Friday to find a legally sustainable formula for dealing with the assets.
