Merz spoke out against Trump

The US national security strategy, which Donald Trump presented the other day, is terrible from the point of view of Europe, said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. His words are quoted by Politico.

Merz stressed that one part of this document is understandable, another part is explicable, and another part is unacceptable for Europe.

"I don't see the need for Americans to try to save democracy in Europe now. If she had to be rescued, we would have done it ourselves," the German chancellor said.

He stressed that he had strengthened his assessment of the need for the EU to become more independent of Washington in matters of security and defense.

The US doctrine praises the rise of far-right "patriotic European parties," writes Le Monde. The continent is described as one of those "whose economic decline is overshadowed by the real and more severe prospect of the destruction of civilization" due to migration, declining birth rates and censorship of free speech. European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius believes that the US National Security Strategy illustrates "why Europe needs to quickly strengthen its defense and geopolitical independence."

The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, commenting on the US document, also said that Europe would not tolerate the threat of interference in political life.

"The United States cannot replace European citizens in choosing good or bad parties," he said.

Costa recalled that political freedoms are among the fundamental values of the EU.

"We view the accusations of this more as an ideology than as a strategy," he stressed.

The head of the European Diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, speaking to the European Parliament, said that "criticism of freedoms should be directed in the other direction. Perhaps against Russia." She called the American national security strategy a provocation.

In early December, the White House published an updated US National Security Strategy — the 33-page document outlines the priorities of the country's foreign policy, including an approach to Russia, the EU and NATO.

Against this background, American businessman Elon Musk called for the abolition of the European Union so that its member countries would regain full sovereignty. According to him, this is necessary "so that governments can better represent their people." Musk also stated that "bureaucracy The EU is slowly strangling Europe."

The Kremlin, in turn, admitted that this US document could become a "modest" pledge for the constructive continuation of negotiations on the settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.