Frontrunner for chancellor expresses doubts over US Nato commitments, with the far-right AfD set for its best result

As the war enters its fourth year, the U.S. is no longer aligned with the Ukrainian cause or with its NATO allies, and European leaders are bracing for a post-U.S. alliance. Driving the news: Friedrich Merz,

Germany's conservative leader Friedrich Merz said on Thursday the U.S. was at risk of sliding into longer-term authoritarian instability, casting doubt on Washington's presence for Germany’s 70th NATO membership anniversary in May.

Germany’s Friedrich Merz takes swipe at Trump and calls for ‘independence from the USA’ - Germany’s likely next chancellor has also questioned whether NATO will continue to exist

Europe will need to defend itself and can no longer rely on the US, says man likely to become next German chancellor

The likely next chancellor is unpopular, and his country’s economy has stalled. But his penchant for risks could help lead to a European showdown with President Trump.

The soon-to-be new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, may not be quite a Teutonic knight ... As he says, it is “unclear whether we will still speak of Nato in its present shape” by the time of ...

Germany’s chancellor-elect, Friedrich Merz ... In speaking about the upcoming NATO summit in June, Merz suggested the NATO alliance "in its current form" is in jeopardy and said European ...

Germany’s mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won the country’s national election, ensuring that Ukraine has an even stronger supporter in the European Union’s largest country and

Claiming his victory in the German election, Friedrich Merz, leader of the centre-right ... chancellor also cast doubt on the future of Nato without American support. He was only a little less ...

Merz aims to shift Europe away from US dependence, but rising far-right pressure and geopolitical tensions could complicate his path.