German conservative election winner Friedrich Merz said on Monday, February 24, that he would seek good ties with the United States under President Donald Trump but was also ready for "the worst-case scenario." "I hope that we can convince the Americans that it is in our mutual interest to maintain good transatlantic relations," Merz said at a press conference, a day after his CDU/CSU alliance came first in national elections. "But as always, you have to deal with the worst-case scenario," he said, warning that "all the signals we are receiving from the United States indicate that interest in Europe is decreasing."
"If those who really do not just make 'America First,' but almost 'America Alone' their motto prevail, then it will be difficult," he told reporters Monday in his first post-election news conference. "But I remain hopeful that we will succeed in maintaining the transatlantic relationship." He warned that if the good relationship "is destroyed, it will not only be to the detriment of Europe, it will also be to the detriment of America."
Merz also said he had a "lengthy" call with Emmanuel Macron late Sunday, as the French president headed to Washington to meet with Trump. "We discussed the topics he wants to address with the American president, and I found that there was complete agreement between what he wants to say and what I want to say" on transatlantic ties, Merz said.
Trump blindsided European allies when he declared his readiness to resume diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin and to hold talks without the involvement of European nations or Kyiv. He has repeated Russian talking points about Ukraine's supposed responsibility in starting the war, raising concern in Europe that he would agree to Moscow's terms. US Vice President JD Vance also caused shock in Europe this month when he used a speech at a security forum in Munich to criticize the European Union on issues ranging from immigration to free speech.