Merz also gets asked about whether he still thinks Nato offers necessary protection for Europe, and for his message to US president Donald Trump.
On Nato, he says that the alliance “continues to function well,” praising Nato secretary general Mark Rutte’s direct relationship with Donald Trump.
He also praises the UK for “moving closer to the European continent again so to speak” by assuming an active role in the alliance.
“I am cautiously confident that we will succeed” with making progress on the European pillar of Nato, he says.
He also stresses his support for Nato military presence in central and eastern Europe and “particularly” in the Baltics.
On his message to Trump, he gives a very diplomatic answer, saying that European “have a great interest in maintaining a good relationship with America,” and “still see ourselves as partners.”
He says the two had “the same understanding of open society, freedom, democracy and a market economy,” and he hopes it will continue.
He also gets asked his comments on US from last night, and repeats the line that “all the signals we are getting from the US indicate that interest in Europe is clearly declining, and the willingness to get involved in Europe is decreasing.”
He also warns that “America First” does not have to mean “America alone", warning that if the EU-US relationship gets worse, “it will not only be to the detriment of Europe, it will also be to the detriment of America.”
Asked about the US-Russia talks, he says any deal reached without Ukraine would be “unacceptable” for both Ukraine and for Europe.
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