German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that the United States is moving away from the rules-based international order, urging Europe to pursue greater strategic independence from its long-standing ally.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has issued a pointed warning that the United States is moving away from a foreign policy grounded in international law and toward one driven primarily by power and national interests.

Merz made the comments at a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) event in Heddesheim, Germany, where he described shifts in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump as part of a broader trend away from a rules-based international order. He said Washington’s evolving approach puts greater emphasis on unilateral power and national interest than on upholding international legal norms — a shift that he suggested Europe cannot ignore.

“We are seeing our most important ally — the United States — turn away from a rules-based order,” Merz said, adding that Europe must avoid “burying our heads in the sand” or attempting to survive in a geopolitical niche. He stressed that Washington will respect its European partners only if they demonstrate strength and unity rather than diminishing themselves.

In a related statement, Merz urged that Europe must work together and speak “the same language” to be taken seriously on the world stage. He said that preserving Germany’s industrial base and securing economic competitiveness are integral to this broader project of European self-assertion.

The chancellor’s remarks come amid broader debate in Europe over its strategic autonomy and its relationship with the United States. Merz and other European leaders have recently criticized parts of the U.S. National Security Strategy — particularly its limited emphasis on Europe and its “America First” orientation — as out of step with European security priorities. According to reports, Merz described elements of the strategy as “unacceptable” from a European perspective and argued that Europe should become less dependent on the United States for its own defense and security.

Earlier this month, Merz also stressed the importance of allied cooperation in safeguarding strategic regions such as Greenland, saying detailed discussions with Denmark and expectations of U.S. participation demonstrate Europe’s ongoing work with transatlantic partners on security issues — even as divergences persist.

Merz’s comments reflect growing European concern about the future of U.S. engagement in global leadership roles, particularly in the context of shifting geopolitical priorities and domestic policy debates in Washington. As Europe seeks to navigate these changes, the question of how to balance cooperation with autonomy appears set to remain at the forefront of transatlantic relations. (ILKHA)