Merz Stresses 'Self-Reliant Security' in Meetings with EU and NATO Leaders
Calls for Massive Increase in Defense Spending and Stronger European Capabilities
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a leading candidate for the next German Chancellor, emphasized 'self-reliant security' by visiting the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) consecutively to advocate for a significant increase in defense spending.
According to the EU and NATO, Merz held a series of meetings on the 5th and 6th (local time) in Brussels, Belgium, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Merz visited Brussels to attend the European People's Party (EPP) meeting, the political group in the European Parliament to which the CDU belongs, and met with NATO and EU leadership.
After meeting with Secretary General Rutte, Merz wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "Germany and Europe must invest massively in defense capabilities right now."
During the meeting with EU leadership, he also discussed European security and defense capabilities, emphasizing, "Only if we become stronger can there be peace in Europe."
Prior to visiting Brussels, the CDU-Christian Social Union (CSU) alliance and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) announced on the 4th that they would establish an unprecedentedly large special fund for military expansion and economic structural reform, and also plan to ease debt limit regulations.
For Merz, this is seen as demonstrating his presence on the European diplomatic stage even before the coalition government formation negotiations are finalized. Given Germany's traditionally cautious fiscal policy, Europe is welcoming the 'dramatic change' in leadership from Germany, the largest economy in Europe.
Friedrich Merz (left), leader of Germany's CDU, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Photo by Yonhap News
High Representative Josep Borrell praised Merz, saying, "Your recent announcement to increase Germany's defense budget is leading the way for us," and added, "Germany's support for Ukraine has been very useful, and together we can do more."
In this regard, European think tanks Bruegel and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy recently diagnosed in a report titled 'Defending Europe Without the US' that Germany's role will be especially important for increasing overall European defense spending.
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