Why it matters:
The speech signals a fundamental recalibration of German and European security strategy. Berlin is preparing for a world where it can no longer rely solely on the existing international framework and must rapidly build up its own military and economic deterrence to match rising powers and threats.
What he's saying:
Friedrich Merz, stated that China is actively reinterpreting the global order to serve its own interests and could soon achieve military parity with the United States.
He noted a transatlantic divergence in approach: while Washington recognizes the need to keep pace with Beijing, it is pursuing a unilateral path, whereas Europe has reached different conclusions on how to manage ties.
The Chancellor vowed to make Germany's military the strongest in Europe. This involves reviving defense industries, slashing bureaucratic constraints, and advancing new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
On the ground:
While pushing for European strategic autonomy, Germany says Europe should remain a central pillar of NATO rather than seek to replace it, warning against unequal levels of security across the continent.
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