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Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor: Europe was free-riding on US

Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor: Europe was free-riding on US

The Interview vor 1 Jahr

Nick Robinson speaks to Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, about European defence

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Europe was free-riding on US

Nick Robinson speaks to Friedrich Merz, the new German
Chancellor, about the future of Europe’s defence amid the growing
threat posed by Russia. Merz, the leader of the centre-right
Christian Democrat party, was elected as Chancellor earlier this
year at the second attempt, following chaotic scenes in the
German Bundestag that saw him lose the first parliamentary vote.
He’s been in the UK to sign the first-ever friendship treaty
between the two countries - it’s a wide-ranging agreement
covering everything from migration to energy, and business to
defence.

Unlike his predecessors who, in the shadow of World War Two, were
keen to reassure the world that German military strength was not
a priority, Chancellor Merz has decided to invest heavily in
defence.

He says that a strong army is now essential, thanks to the grave
threat Russia poses to European peace and stability - and that
Germany must be able to protect itself, and not rely on America.

Chancellor Merz also talks about his good relations with US
President Donald Trump and the rise of the far right AFD
(Alternative für Deutschland) party in his country, which is now
the official opposition.

Thank you to the Today programme team for their help in making
this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with
people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best
interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service,
Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The
Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, or
wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Nick Robinson Producers: Lucy Sheppard, Ben Cooper and
Kirsty McKenzie Sound: Dave O’Neill Editor: Nick Holland

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the
hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Friedrich Merz. Credit: Reuters)