German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday, stating that the era of unipolar order has ended and suggesting that the United States may have lost its claim to global leadership.
In his remarks, Chancellor Merz compared the annual Munich conference to a seismograph, reflecting the current global political dynamics, particularly in US-European relations. He expressed concern that the international order based on laws and rules, which was already fragile during its peak, has now “practically ceased to exist.” He attributed part of this decline to “Russia’s brutal revisionism.”
Chancellor Merz further noted that China is strategically leveraging the interdependencies of other nations to reshape the international order to its own advantage. “If there was a ‘unipolar moment’ following the fall of the Berlin Wall, it has now passed. The claim of the United States to leadership has been significantly challenged and may even be lost,” the Chancellor highlighted.
He said that Americans are increasingly recognising the need to contend with China’s rise and are adjusting their strategies accordingly. “As Europeans, we are also preparing for this new era, albeit arriving at different conclusions than those in Washington,” he stated. He emphasised that Europe is not at the mercy of global developments but can influence them.
The Chancellor recalled Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski‘s words from 15 years ago, “I fear German power less than German inaction.” He recognised that Germany bears a responsibility derived from its historical context and geographical position.
The Chancellor reiterated his commitment to transforming the Bundeswehr into the strongest military force in Europe and mentioned discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron on establishing a European nuclear deterrent.
He called for a collective initiative to rebuild transatlantic trust and affirmed that Europeans are actively contributing to this effort. He also advocated for Europe and Germany to forge new alliances and enhance existing partnerships, not only with the United States but also with countries such as Brazil, India, and South Africa.
The MSC is regarded as the preeminent annual platform for security policy discussions in Europe.
