That that the Friedrich Mertz It belonged to the wing of the “Atlantists” (ie the pro-Americans) of the CDU (and was chosen by the blessed Wolfgag Schoeble) was already known before taking over the party leadership in 2022 and then its Chancellor Germany in 2025.
The situation that was formed on the international economic scene especially after the Donald Trump’s election to US presidencyin January 2025, constituted the Necessary Atlantic Policy “Bridge” from which Germany has begun to “pass” by Friedrich Mertz on the opposite side of the Atlantic, that is to say USA Trump’s, leaving the EU more and more for the sake of… Europe in general.
Its passage -in a statement of- “Scandinavian hidden” Mertz in the US (unlike Merkel’s Fil Eura – Siatic Visual and Salts), as well as the shift of the EU Center of European Policy to Europe appears in the commercial, defender, but also in the economic – fiscal field:
1. In favor of ‘Rapid resolution’ between the US and the EU
The strengthening of relations between the US – Germany was evident from Merz’s public differentiation from the attitude of compatriot and homosexual, Commission President Ursula von der Laien in relation to her EU – USA trade negotiation.
Mertz (as opposed to France’s “toughest” line) during his speech at the German Cooperative Banks conference (July 3, 2025) noted that one needed a “Rapid resolution of a tariff difference, and especially for the basic industries of our country: the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the engineering, the aluminum, steel and automotive industries. A quick result with the United States of America now has to be achieved – better fast and simply rather than time -consuming and complex, and even under negotiation for months, ladies and gentlemen! There must be a quick result with the United States of America now so that our companies get rid of the overly high duties they have to pay today when they export to the United States of America. “
2. Europe’s first major re -equipment move was made with the purchase of US Patriot
Even more tragic example of Merz’s positive turn to the demands of Trump’s US is, of course, another and concerns the defensive costs in NATO: Acceptance – and with the above! … 2029, that is, earlier than the milestone that NATO has set for the first major evaluation in the march to 5% to 2035.
And one more thing: Mertz has committed (regardless of any EU collective process) that it will be one of the European countries, which will pay for the acquisition of US Patriots that Ukraine will receive, in practice agreeing to the Trump strategy that is more than the US. So, More or less the first big market of the new (unlimited) German war budget (after the overflow of the constitutional debt brake) will concern … American rather than German weapons!
3. “We as Europeans” and Germans, “not as the EU”
So we go to the second part of Merz’s international policy (the first is the biggest alignment with the US): the distinction between the EU and … Europe.
Indicative was the statement made by Mertz at a press conference he gave last Friday, July 18, 2025: “The global landscape has changed as Europeans – I say intentionally not as a European Union, but as Europeans – we must respond appropriately.” From this statement it becomes clear that The focus of Mertz’s European policy is Europe as the EU.
Mertz continued his placement by saying that “For this reason the Norwegian prime minister will be with me next week (ed. 21.7.25). That is why I participated in the meetings of the so -called Scandinavian countries, the Baltic Sea States to which we belong. So much is changing in the world at the moment when we in Europe – again, this explicitly means not only the EU, but the whole of Europe – we have to respond to appropriate forms. I always considered the previous government’s failure to do the fact that it did not do enough on this issue. But my government, this federal government, is making things different. I also know from colleagues in all ministries that all colleagues are trying to do things differently, because we really need alliances around the world now, and we have to find them especially in Europe – not only in Europe, but above all in Europe. “
In the context of this perspective, Mertz the day before, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, signed – for the first time after the end of World War II – a “friendship pact” (along with a few business agreements) with the United Kingdom.
Merz statements were revealed, following his meeting with Norway Prime Minister Juna Gar Store on July 21, 2025. First, Mertz described the Germans … ‘Hidden Scandinavians’pointing (apparently not by accident) the racial affinity (Do we admit that this approach is a little host?) of the two peoples, namely the Germans and the Norwegians.
Let us follow the German Chancellor’s rationale on European policy. When asked, on the occasion of his recent criticism of the EU for excessive bureaucracy and slow proceedings, whether more bilateral agreements can expect, Mertz described this question as “strategic”.
He went on to say that “We are also seeking close partnerships with European states outside the European Union and what we do outside the European Union does not contradict our European policy.”
And explained what he means: “We have so many opportunities in Europe right now. If this terrible war in Ukraine has a good one, it is that it brings us to us as Europeans like never before in recent decades. I just want to take the opportunity to accept this offer we received from Norway, Great Britain and other countries.
My criticism of the European Union is not personal but rather objective. I may may add one more aspect: Proposals announced over the weekend, for example on car rental fleets and electric drive completely ignore the needs we share in Europe today. These are not the right sentences. On the contrary, we want to remain open to all types of technology. This morning, on the sidelines of the important meeting with German industrial companies, We also discussed the future of the automotive industry. The automotive industry is one of the key industries of the European continent and we must not allow this industry to be destroyed by limiting our focus to technologies that we do not even know if they will all be marketable until a specific date, so that we can only rely on this technology. Therefore, we are opposed to such regulations. We want consumers to make the decision, not the state – nor the European Union».
In addition, he explicitly stated that Germany could vote on the EU contribution to companies with a turnover of over € 100 million (proposed by the Commission in the context of the plan of the new Community budget for the period 2028 – 2034), but … it will not implement it!
The German Chancellor did not stop there. He went further: “We need to clarify these fundamental questions together in Europe and now there will be an intensive debate about it. But this is not personal. It is a fact -based discussion, a debate that is necessary for Europe to find the power it could really have. Europe, however, is not currently open enough, quite fast, quite dynamic. I want to contribute to changing this and that’s why we do this discussion. We have also determined what we are expecting from Europe to the coalition agreement (in the CDU – SPD government in Germany). I believe that those who pay one quarter of the European Union budget also have a say in terms of shaping strategic perspectives for this European Union for the coming years. “
Regarding Mertz’s stance on the next EU budget (2028 – 2034), it is sufficient to state that it explicitly excludes the contribution proposed by the Commission to companies “operating” and “selling” within the EU (that is, both European, for example, US).