Frontrunner for chancellor expresses doubts over US Nato commitments, with the far-right AfD set for its best result

As the war enters its fourth year, the U.S. is no longer aligned with the Ukrainian cause or with its NATO allies, and European leaders are bracing for a post-U.S. alliance. Driving the news: Friedrich Merz,

Germany’s Friedrich Merz takes swipe at Trump and calls for ‘independence from the USA’ - Germany’s likely next chancellor has also questioned whether NATO will continue to exist

Europe will need to defend itself and can no longer rely on the US, says man likely to become next German chancellor

Such talks often drag on for weeks if not months in Germany, but Merz is in a hurry to reach a deal with Europe's biggest economy facing economic malaise and an upheaval in relations with the U.S.

The soon-to-be new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, may not be quite a Teutonic knight ... As he says, it is “unclear whether we will still speak of Nato in its present shape” by the time of ...

The likely next chancellor is unpopular, and his country’s economy has stalled. But his penchant for risks could help lead to a European showdown with President Trump.

CDU leader questions whether Nato will remain in its ‘current form’ by June as he hits out at Donald Trump Friedrich Merz, who is poised to become Germany’s next chancellor, has warned Nato ...

Merz aims to shift Europe away from US dependence, but rising far-right pressure and geopolitical tensions could complicate his path.

Following the victory of the Christian Democrats with Friedrich Merz in the Bundestag election, Brussels has not only offered congratulations but also made its first demands. Germany is expected to spend more on defense.

Germany’s mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won the country’s national election, ensuring that Ukraine has an even stronger supporter in the European Union’s largest country and