There is no such thing as “Europe holiday season is over

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened the Security Conference in Munich with a severe assessment of the international situation, stating that, contrary to this year's conference slogan, the world order is not “under collaps”, but “no longer exists in”.

In his opening speech, Merz argued that recent events mark the end of what he called Europe's long <x0pause from world history”, noting that the continent is re-entering an era of severe geopolitical confrontation, power balances and conflicts.

The German Chancellor stressed that the return of major powers policy is now the main framework for the drafting of European policies, with emphasis on prevention, increased defence spending and geopolitical competition.

Our main goal as Europeans and German is to accept this new reality today”, he said. “This does not mean that we accept it as our imminent destiny. ”

His remarks came after a informal summit of European Union leaders, at a time when governments across the continent are trying to formulate a consistent strategy to increase competitiveness and revive industrial sectors.

Merz stressed that Europe is failing to translate its economic burden into geopolitical influence. Russia's GDP is about 2 trillion euros, he noted, while the European Union economy is almost ten times larger.

“E, however, Europe is not acting ten times as hard”, he said, describing the gap as the continent's main strategic weakness.

A deep rift with the United States

Merz spoke of a “deep division” that has opened between Europe and the United States, showing growing differences in a political and trade level.

The US cultural wars are not ours. And we don't believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade”, he said, in one of the most direct descriptions of today's transatlantic tensions.

Warning of China and the Nuclear Issue

The Chancellor also warned of raising China, praising that “within a few years” Beijing likely transfers the United States into military power. As he said, the US “welcome for leadership is on the last run, possibly already lost”.

In his speech, Merz found that he had discussed the possibility of a European nuclear prevention device with French President Emmanuel Macro.

“I designed a European nuclear prevention tool with Emmanuel Macron”, he said, affecting one of the most sensitive issues in European security architecture.

Its reference relates to discussions on how Europe can strengthen its strategic defence amid uncertainty about long-term security guarantees from the United States. France has the only fully independent nuclear arsenal in Europe.

Beijing Message Before Visit

Merz's statements also defined the position he is expected to take during his first visit to China as Chancellor later this month. Despite the acceptance of Beijing's growing power, he made it clear that the new geopolitical reality would not lead Berlin “to the embrace of China”.

He noted that Beijing systematically uses other countries' addictions to its advantage. He recalled that the German automotive industry was in almost a deadlock last year when China imposed restrictions on the export of rare land magnets used in critical components throughout the chain of value.

The Chancellor is expected to raise the issue of export restrictions as a key sticking point in his talks with Chinese leadership, demanding clearer rules and greater predictability in trade relations.

In his speech in Munich, Friedrich Merz tried to describe a more realistic and convincing European strategy in a world where, as he argued, the old international order has already passed.