German Chancellor Warns: “No More Int’l Order”

DID Press: Friedrich Merz, speaking at the 62nd Munich Security Conference, warned of a deepening rift between Europe and the United States, emphasizing that the transatlantic partnership can no longer be taken for granted.

Merz highlighted recent shifts in transatlantic relations, saying “a gap has emerged” between Europe and Washington, signaling that traditional ties cannot continue without reassessment. He noted that reliance on an automatic continuation of this strategic partnership is no longer viable.

Referring to remarks last year by U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance at the same conference, Merz said the U.S. shift in approach has now produced increasingly visible consequences.

His comments come amid rising tensions over U.S. punitive trade tariffs, disagreements on European defense arrangements, and broader geopolitical issues, all of which challenge the future of the transatlantic order.

The MSC this year convened dozens of heads of state and government, along with numerous foreign and defense ministers, focusing on the future of the global order, multilateralism, and the trajectory of Europe–U.S. relations.