Germany’s Merz sharply criticizes new US security strategy

BERLIN

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday sharply criticized the new US security strategy, which did not classify Russia as a threat and alleged that the EU censors free speech and suppresses political opposition.

Speaking to reporters in Mainz, Merz said the Trump administration's new national security strategy document did not come as a complete surprise, but he called some aspects of it "unacceptable" for Europeans.

“The most important question, of course, is what this means for our security policy cooperation. This strategy confirms my assessment that as Europe, and therefore also as Germany, we must become far more independent from the US in terms of security policy,” he said.

Merz said the document continues President Donald Trump's "America First" approach, but warned that sidelining allies would not serve US interests. "In my discussions with the Americans, I say: 'America First’ is fine, but ’America Alone’ can't be in your interest. You need partners in the world. And one of those partners can be Europe,” he said.

Responding to claims that Europe restricts freedom of expression and suppresses political opposition, Merz rejected these allegations as unfounded. He noted the document's assertions echoed what US Vice President JD Vance told Europeans at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year.

“Some of it is understandable. Some of it is comprehensible, some of it is unacceptable to us from a European perspective,” Merz emphasized. “That the Americans now want to save democracy in Europe, I see no necessity for that. If it needed saving, we would manage that on our own,” he said, rejecting US interference in European domestic politics.

The new US national security strategy document, released last week, outlined the Trump administration's priorities in foreign and security policy. It focused on the Indo-Pacific region while rejecting European governments' characterization of Russia as an "existential threat."

The 33-page document also included contentious observations about Europe, warning of the continent's economic decline and the "real and more stark prospect of civilizational erasure" within the next 20 years.

"The larger issues facing Europe include activities of the European Union and other transnational bodies that undermine political liberty and sovereignty, migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife, censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition, cratering birthrates, and loss of national identities and self-confidence," the document said.