During his first visit to NATO headquarters on Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz softened his previous concerns about the alliance’s viability, stating that the United States is “indispensable” for Europe’s security.
The tone was a sharp departure from February, when Merz — then the German opposition leader and a chancellor candidate — accused the Trump administration on German public broadcaster ARD of treating “Europe’s fate with indifference” and warned that Germany might soon have to build a defense alliance without the U.S. “I never thought I’d have to say this on live television,” he said at the time.