Germany, Merz at the Bundestag: “We must become Europe’s strongest army”.

It was a decidedly “muscular” debut for Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the German Bundestag. Speaking before the federal parliament, Merz launched a bold proposal that is likely to define his government’s strategic direction: “Germany,” he declared, “must become the strongest army in Europe.” A statement that reflects the new international posture Berlin aims to adopt.

In his first policy address, Merz placed foreign policy at the top of the agenda, followed by the urgent need to revive the economy. “Strength deters aggression, weakness encourages it,” he said—remarks that are bound to stir familiar concerns among proponents of a united and democratic Europe.

Addressing the war in Ukraine, the German chancellor reaffirmed the position already expressed by his predecessor, Olaf Scholz: “We are not a party to the conflict, but we are not neutral observers either.”

Merz also reiterated his pledge to restore economic growth: “We can once again become one of the world’s economic engines.” But in the closing part of his speech—perhaps with an eye to reclaiming support from the 20.8% of Germans backing the AfD—Merz pivoted strongly to the topic of immigration. “Uncontrolled migration has undermined the country’s social cohesion,” he stated, promising “more controls, more deportations, and more repatriations.”

Photo: Alain Rolland, Copyright: © European Union 2025 – Source: EP