German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed concern that Europe is not playing the role on the world stage that it both wants and should take on to properly protect its interests, reported dpa.
"What worries me, and I have to admit weighs on me, is that we Europeans are not currently taking the role in the world that we want and should play to properly protect our interests," Merz said according to an interview with CDU.TV, the official media channel of his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, that will be aired on Friday morning.
Merz cited the war in Ukraine as an example.
"We are currently unable to exert sufficient pressure on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to end this war," he said. "We are dependent on American help."
At the same time, he noted, countries such as China, India and Brazil are forging new partnerships with Russia.
Despite his concerns, Merz welcomed signs of renewed European unity. "This depends to a large extent on the commitment of the German government and, in this case, very much on the commitment of the German chancellor," he said.
Merz said Germany is striving to meet the responsibilities expected of it on the global stage, noting that doing so also serves the country's own interests.
- Merz
- Dissatisfied
- Europe’s role
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
