FULL VIDEO: Germany’s Merz BLASTS Trump’s America; Says China Can TAKEOVER U.S

A major transatlantic political storm is brewing as Germany’s Friedrich Merz launches a fierce verbal attack on Donald Trump’s America, warning that weakening global alliances could open the door for China to challenge U.S. dominance. The explosive remarks have sparked intense debate across Europe and Washington, raising fresh questions about NATO unity, EU–U.S. relations, and the future of global power balance

#GermanyMerzTrump #MerzBlastsTrump #EUUSTensions #GermanyUSRelations #MerzChinaWarning #USEuropeAllianceCrisis #NATOUnityDebate #TrumpForeignPolicyCriticism #EUUSGeopoliticalConflict #ChinaUSPowerRivalry #TransatlanticPoliticalTensions #GlobalPowerShiftAnalysis #EuropeSecurityConcernsUSPolicy #MerzSpeechGlobalReaction #EUUSWarRhetoricDebate #GermanyUSTensionsLatest #TrumpAmericaComments

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Transcript

00:00To have you here, Chancellor, opening the Munich Security Conference, you have the floor.

00:14I will go to your kitchen and I will go to Germany.

00:29You will be at the moment.

00:38You are calling your colleagues and you are from different governments, parliaments, excellency, excellencies, guests, ladies and gentlemen.

01:08I come with only a few interruptions.

01:16I've attended the Munich Security Conference for more than 30 years.

01:29The Munich Security Conference has always been a seismograph for a political situation.

01:47In the early years, the seismograph saw the relations between the United States and Europe.

02:05For many years, it's been a seismograph for the political state of the entire world.

02:19In the early years, I came here mainly to foster the relations with our American friends.

02:35But also to meet new actors in foreign and security policy for many parts of the world.

02:53What I made in the oven leaked through for several years.

03:01Also here in this room, we've had an atmosphere marked by increasing tensions and conflicts in the world.

03:21And at the latest, with the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine four years ago, we have entered a new phase of loss.

03:47Asking the open, creating conflicts and wars.

03:55That make us hold our breath.

04:00And that change our world more comprehensively.

04:11And that change our world more thoroughly.

04:13But again, you may have ended our evolution in itsтяnary power, so you can see it immediately.

04:15They are цент-

04:20Onowy subject to Ukraine.

04:21Oh dear.

04:23Of note.

04:25Then.

04:26We, also we in this room, would have thought possible.

04:28For many years before.

04:36to me to open this conference today because we need to talk. This is more urgent than

04:55another. Before we do that, allow me to thank Wolfgang Ischinger on behalf of the federal

05:13government for heading this conference once again this year. I may say this that way, Wolfgang,

05:28thank you very much for your great work, especially in this year.

05:43In this conference, there is a dangerous motto. You've chosen a grim motto for this conference,

06:03Under Destruction. This motto is mindful and it probably means that

06:12the international order based on rights and rules is in the case currently being destroyed.

06:30But I'm afraid we have to put it in even harsher terms. This order, the Unfulcum, as flawed as it has been even in its heyday, the Gyptus no longer exists.

06:58And we, Europe. And we, Europe. Well, Peter Slauterdijk wrote a few weeks ago that Europe had just returned.

07:26just returned from a vacation from a vacation from world history.

07:35We had the demise of this film. Together, we've entered an era that once again, from what is marked by power,

07:54and big power, and big power politics, very openly.

08:03And first of all, we see Russia's violent revisionism. It's brutal war against Ukraine.

08:18We're being in a political order against our political order.

08:25We are still a peaceful president. We are still a peaceful president.

08:29I'm a disresolved fan, but this is only the frillest expression we see on a daily basis.

08:43We see other developments in the world as well that are different to what we in this room

08:58would have expected or discussed in the years before.

09:08China wants to be a leader in shaping the world, and it has paved the ground for that over many years

09:23with strategic patience. In the foreseeable future, Beijing will be on an equal footing with the United States in military terms.

09:51China systematically uses dependencies of others, and it redefines the international order in its own favour.

10:14If there had been a unipolar moment after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a unipolar moment in history, it has long passed.

10:32The United States' claim to leadership has been challenged and possibly lost.

10:48The return to power politics, however, is not only rooted in the rivalry between great powers.

11:04Ladies and gentlemen, it is also a reflection of restless, agitated societies in times of revolutionary changes.

11:22It is an expression of a wish, also in many democratic states, a wish for strong leadership in a globalized world,

11:40in which especially democratic states are coming very close to the limits of their ability to act.

11:58The big power politics, it seems, gives strong and easy answers, at least to the big players, and at least at a first glance.

12:22The big power politics disillusioned with disillusioned with disillusioned big power politics turns away from the world,

12:40in which increasing connectivity in which increasing connectivity translates into the rule of law and peaceful relations between states.

13:00The big power politics is a big power politics, and the big power politics has its own heart.

13:09It is fast, harsh, and often unpredictable.

13:20It fears its own dependencies, but uses dependencies of others and, if necessary, even exploits them.

13:42At the heart of this stands a battle for spheres of influence, dependencies and deference.

14:01Natural resources, technologies, and supply chains are becoming bargaining tools in the zero-sum-sum game of the major powers.

14:22This is a dangerous game.

14:29At first, for the small players, but later on, probably also for the big players.

14:43And our friends in the United States are adapting to this at a fast pace.

14:59They have realized their own needs to catch up in some areas with China, and they are drawing radical consequences in their national security strategy.

15:18They do that in their own way, but does not slow down this trend, but rather accelerates it.

15:30And we, the Europeans too, are preparing for this new era.

15:46But I commentate to under them again.

15:50And we reach different conclusions than, for example, the administration in Washington.

16:02Our prime task as Europeans, and of course as Germans too, is...

16:16...disappointed.

16:20Accept this new reality today.

16:26It does not mean that we accept it as an inevitable fate.

16:36The entities are free.

16:40We are not at the mercy of this world.

16:46We can shape it.

16:50We have a concept.

16:52And I have no doubt...

16:54...that...

16:56...we will preserve...

17:02...our interests and our values in this world...

17:08...if...

17:14...if...

17:16...we...

17:18...step up together...

17:20...with...

17:22...determination...

17:24...with...

17:26...confidence in our own strengths.

17:30This way, we will...

17:32...we will...

17:34...we will...

17:36...weather the storm...

17:38...and...

17:40...preserve our freedom.

17:42We will...

17:44...push open new doors.

17:46We will seize new opportunities.

17:48...and...

17:50...if...

17:52...we get it...

17:54...right...

17:56...we will...

17:58...emmerge even stronger...

18:00...from this...

18:02...testing time.

18:04Ladies and gentlemen...

18:06...in a very...

18:08...sober manner...

18:10...we should...

18:12...firstly...

18:14...focus...

18:19...on...

18:20...our...

18:21...objectives...

18:23...and...

18:24...our...

18:25...possibilities.

18:26The...

18:27...major...

18:28...objectives...

18:29...of...

18:30...German...

18:31...finance...

18:32...security...

18:33...policy...

18:34...derived...

18:35...from...

18:36...our...

18:37...basic...

18:38...law...

18:39...and...

18:40...our...

18:41...history...

18:42...and...

18:44...our...

18:45...geography.

18:46...and...

18:47...our...

18:48...geography.

18:49...and...

18:51...above...

18:52...everything...

18:53...stands...

18:55...our...

18:56...freedom.

18:57...and...

18:58...our...

19:00...security...

19:01...makes...

19:03...this...

19:05...freedom...

19:06...possible...

19:07...and...

19:08...our...

19:09...economic...

19:10...power...

19:11serves this freedom.

19:17Our basic law, our history, and our geography

19:27mandate us to always think our goals

19:38in a European dimension.

19:42This focus is in our own vested interest.

19:48It opens up...

19:51Only this way it opens up the best opportunities

19:57for our country.

20:03Especially, particularly, German foreign and security

20:07policy is anchored in a European perspective.

20:15And this Europe is more precious than ever.

20:26The way we approach our goals is something that we adjust today

20:39to the possibilities that we have from the thought.

20:44And let me be very frank here.

20:49Compared to its power instruments,

20:56German foreign policy of the last decades had,

21:04if I may put it that way, a normative surplus.

21:12With the best intentions, it criticised violations of the international order all over the world.

21:27It has often admonished, demanded, and scolded.

21:37But it was not read enough about the fact that it often lacked the means to solve the problem.

21:55And this gap between ambition and possibility had grown too wide.

22:08We're closing it now.

22:12And this way, we will be in a better position to face reality.

22:26So, let's be honest about our own possibilities.

22:37And one striking example is Russia's GDP is currently about 2 trillion euros.

22:51That of the European Union is almost 10 times as high.

23:02But still, Europe is not 10 times as strong as Russia today.

23:17Our military, political, economic, and technological potential is huge.

23:33We haven't tapped into the necessary extent for a very long time.

23:49So, the most important thing is to turn the switch in our minds now.

23:58We have understood that in the era of fake powers, our freedom is no longer a given.

24:19It is at stake.

24:24We will need to show firmness and determination to assert this freedom.

24:35This will require a willingness to engage in new beginnings, in change, and yes, also make sacrifices.

24:49Not just some day, but right now.

25:00And it is for very good reasons that we have our difficulties in Germany with state power.

25:15Since 1945, it has been deeply inclined in our thinking that we need to rein in this power.

25:30And let me add, it is not just too much state power that destroys the foundation of our freedom.

25:48For them, too little state power will lead you to a different path, but to the same result.

26:06And this question has very much European dimension.

26:17For 15 years, already 15 years ago, Radek Sikorsky told us Germans,

26:29I fear German power less than German inactivity.

26:38This is this, too.

26:42This is a part of our responsibility, a responsibility that arises from our basic law, our history, and our geography.

27:01We assume this responsibility, and we need a strategy for that.

27:16To solve an obvious dilemma.

27:20The restructuring of the world by the big powers is happening faster and more comprehensively than we can strengthen ourselves.

27:45So I'm not convinced, because sometimes people automatically demand Europe to just write off the US as a partner.

28:08Ladies and gentlemen, I understand the uneasiness and the doubts that lead to such claims, and I share some of them.

28:27But still, these claims have not been fully thought through.

28:37They ignore hard geopolitical realities in Europe.

28:48Then, they underestimate the potential that our partnership with the US continues to have, despite all the difficulties that exist.

29:07It will not suffice to simply give smart reactions to the maneuvers and moves of the great powers rhetoric.

29:27So, in these challenging times, we are creating our own agenda.

29:44We are focusing on ourselves.

29:48This agenda is gradually being developed, and how could it be otherwise?

29:58But still, we're implementing it at full speed.

30:06We use the pressure under which we've come to create something new, something hopefully good.

30:18Big power politics in Europe, however, is not an option for Germany.

30:32It'll be brought to be...

30:34Leadership...

30:36Leadership...

30:41Leadership...

30:42and Partnership...

30:43Yes.

30:44Hegemonial...

30:46Fantasies...

30:47No.

30:49Never again...

30:51Will we...

30:52Germans...

30:54Go to learn...

30:56Does this...

30:58This is the enduring lesson we've learned from our history.

31:05We assert our freedom with our neighbors.

31:15Only with our neighbors and our allies and our partners.

31:25We build on our strength, our sovereignty, and our ability to show mutual solidarity in Europe.

31:46We do this with realism based on our principles.

31:56Leave us one in front of our friends.

32:01If I may say so, ladies and gentlemen, this program of freedom consists of four points.

32:13Firstly, we are strengthening ourselves in military terms, political terms, economical terms, and with technologies.

32:30We are reducing our dependencies and vulnerabilities.

32:36Our highest priority for us is to strengthen Europe within NATO.

32:44We are making massive investments, incredible deterrence.

32:51And just a reminder, Germany changed its constitution.

33:00At the NATO summit in The Hague last June, all allies, almost all allies, committed themselves to spend 5% of their GDP on security.

33:26Germany alone will invest hundreds of billions of euros over the coming years.

33:38We support Ukraine in its brave resistance against the Russian imperialism in military, in diplomatical, political, economic terms, and also military terms.

34:05Here it is.

34:06And by the way, Germany and Europe have assumed the most important leading role we have imposed and heard of losses and costs on Moscow.

34:33Moscow indeed.

34:35And if Moscow finally agrees to make peace, it will also be for that reason.

34:48Because this is an impression, expression of European self-assession.

34:56We have launched unconventional procurement projects in the field of air defense, deep precision strikes, and satellite technology.

35:14We are reviving our defense industry.

35:21New factories are opening, new jobs are being created, new technologies are emerging.

35:30The Bavarian state premier said it.

35:37Here in Munich, a cluster of highly innovative defense tech companies is booming, developing disruptive technologies.

35:53Well, Germany is in United States.

35:54Partly, in close cooperation with Ukraine.

35:55And if we've already worked with Ukraine, we have cuanto to the end of the war, we have

35:56already worked with Ukraine.

36:09We then started the reform of our military service, and if necessary, we will adjust it further.

36:24We are strengthening NATO's eastern flank.

36:28Nothing in states is the Brigada in the town.

36:38The states are symbolized by our brigade in Lithuania, the first time in the history of the Bundeswehr that a brigade is deployed

36:58outside our own territory.

37:03We will do more for securing the High North.

37:10The first German Eurofighters have been here marked, and more is to follow.

37:21I often said that and I will repeat it today.

37:25We will make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe as soon as we can.

37:36An army that stands firm when it has to.

37:42At the same time, we are making our society and our economy more resilient.

37:55We have initiated new legislation to make our grids and critical infrastructure resilient to hyper-detects.

38:10We are forging resilient supply chains and reducing unilateral dependencies on raw materials, key technologies and key products.

38:26We will follow democracy.

38:27We will protect our free democratic order against internal and external enemies and, among other things, we will also strengthen our intelligence services.