Listening to Friedrich Merz’s solemnly announced foreign policy speech in the Bundestag on Thursday makes one shudder. Not so much for the sinister tone he used ("Europe must become strong,” and “Europe must learn the language of power") but for the idea that we are in the hands of such intellectual and moral dwarfs.
Merz said that the EU must continue to show the “Geschlossenheit und Entschlossenheit” (Unity and Determination) it demonstrated in forcing the US to listen to the EU on Ukraine, and move to take advantage of Europe’s “attractiveness” to other nations and seek new alliances. Without once mentioning the Trump administration, Merz said that Germany and “Europe” must seek new alliances with countries sharing the idea of a “rules-based order,” go back to economic development and build military strength. He announced proposals for “competitiveness” at the next EU Council, which he had discussed with Italian Prime Minister Meloni and praised both the Letta and Draghi reports (praising three Italian figures in one speech is a record for a German Chancellor). He predictably pledged continued support to Kiev.
