The German Chancellor is waiting, not Wait the final results of his country's election on Sunday to announce a new era in Europe.
Declaring the American indifferent to the fate of this continent, Friedrich Mertz has called into question the future of NATO and asked Europe to increase its own defense. Quickly.
This tone from the nearby ally of the United States – and from Friedrich Mertz, who is known to be a passionate Atlantic – would be unimaginable even a few months ago.
This is a seismic shift. This can be read as hyperbole, but what we are now experiencing in terms of transatlantic relations is unprecedented in the 1980s since the end of World War II.
The great European powers were shocked to the basis of the Trump administration, which suggests that it could cancel Europe's security guarantees from 1945.
“I would never think that I would have to say something like a television show, but after Donald Trump's remarks last week … It's clear that this government is not very interested in Europe's fate,” Friedrich Mertz said during on the debate after the Sunday election.
“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible, so step by step we can achieve truly independence from the United States,” he added.
Mertz hinted that the endeavor was so urgent that he was not sure if the Alliance's transatlantic leaders gathering for a summit in June, “will still talk about NATO in its present form or whether we will have to establish an independent European defense power Very much faster. “
It is significant that the upcoming chancellor placed America on Donald Trump on a par with Russia – widely regarded here as a threat to security for Europe wider. He said Europe was now out of the two nations, which is why he had to take emergency action.
The United Kingdom Prime Minister heads to Washington on Thursday after a visit there on Monday by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Friedrich Mertz admits, indirectly, a sense of Fomo – fear of missing out. Right Germany should also be there, this week, he says. Berlin is one of the big three forces in Europe, along with France and the UK.
And with the American and Russia, who are now bilaterally feeding, but not with Ukraine, it feels like a global return to high power policy.
But Germany was Mia (missing) for good weather on the European and world stage. The output government here was weakened and distracted by vicious internal removal. This infuriated the German voters – who wanted to focus on economy and migration urgently – and European allies requiring action in Russia, security and defense.
Mertz says that a major priority for Germany is to engage internationally.
The country is now the second largest military assistance donor for Ukraine after the United States.
Mertz wants to continue this support, but unlike France and the United Kingdom, he was restrained by the idea of sending soldiers to Ukraine, to support the eventual end of fire there.
Based on the records of Germany, however – it drags its heels at every stage of Ukraine's support, and yet it ultimately provides more help than any of its European neighbors – “no” now, does not mean “no” forever to Carrying out troops or participating in any form of European “power for calming” in Ukraine can accept.
So far, the soldiers for whom the Germans are most worried are 35,000 US, located in their country, which make them feel safe.
It is extremely unusual for foreign policy to be a major concern for voters during the election. But in Germany this weekend, along with the economy and migration, a voter after a voter said they were worried about peace in Europe and feeling very insecure.
Already in November, the German Ministry of Interior said it was compiling a list of bunkers that could provide an emergency shelter for civilians.
Ukraine may be far away, but the Germans feel at a high risk of Russia for two reasons.
First, the amount of military equipment that the country has sent them Ukraine. The far right, an alternative to Germany (AFD), with its slogan “Germany First”, held a campaign for Berlin to abandon Kiev and restore relations with Russia. Strategy, not unlike Donald Trump's, as the party is a loved one to point out.
Secondly, many in Germany believe that if Russia wanted to really destabilize Europe, it could be tempted to hit one of the big three with a long -distance rocket.
France and the United Kingdom are nuclear forces. Germany is not. Even its conventional military is terribly undervalued and incapable (for the huge irritation of European partners), so Germany is afraid that it is a soft target.
Moreover, if President Trump withdrew his active servicemen and women from Germany.
He promised to significantly reduce the presence of US troops in Europe as a whole.
The German sense of deep internal uncertainty prompted Friedrich Mertz to suggest last week that he would seek France and the United Kingdom to form a European nuclear umbrella to replace US nuclear guarantees.
This is an idea that is easy to raise the campaign path, but this is really complicated – it includes questions about opportunities, commitment and control.
Reality check: Friedrich Mertz will need a lot of money for his plans to secure Germany and Europe, and the German economy is depressed.
He must also reach an agreement with the coalition partner or partners with which he will form the next German government – as well as with other European countries, such as the United Kingdom.
And they may not want to hit such a strict tone against the United States.
These elections may foretell a stronger leadership than Germany. But the rest of Europe is ready?