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2026-09-18 00:56:09
[German Chancellor Merz: The Special US-EU Relationship Established After WWII "May Have Ended"] German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the era of "unconditional" transatlantic friendship between the United States and Europe established after World War II "may have ended," at least for the foreseeable future. Speaking on Thursday, Merz said that a shift in US political attitude and a new assessment of the transatlantic alliance are emerging, changes that were previously unimaginable. Merz has previously criticized the Trump administration on multiple occasions. In April of this year, he stated that the US had suffered "humiliation" in negotiations with Iran, after which Trump announced the withdrawal of some US troops stationed there. Merz's remarks have also drawn comparisons to similar statements made by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel during Trump's first term in office in 2017. At that time, Merkel stated that the reliable international relations established after World War II "have ended to some extent," drawing widespread attention.
