Germany's likely next Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned on Sunday whether NATO would remain in its "current form" by June in light of the comments by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, and that Europe must quickly establish an independent defence capability.

Vladimir Solovyov, a Russian state TV host and key ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Moscow could "erase" Germany "off the face of the earth" during a recent broadcast. Newsweek reached out to the German embassy for comment via email on Thursday.

"We are going to change course of Germany. We will bring back growth, we will end illegal migration, and we will meet our security needs, especially regarding NATO goals" says senior CDU lawmaker Jens Spahn,

Germanys probable next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has raised concerns over NATOs stability following U.S. President Donald Trumps recent remarks urging Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense.

Germany's likely next Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned on Sunday whether NATO would remain in its "current form" by June in light of comments by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, and said Europe must quickly establish an independent defence capability.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks with the media members on the day of a summit on Ukraine at Lancaster House in London, Britain, March 2, 2025. Christophe Ena/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Higher European defence budgets and a ramp-up of production by military equipment industries are necessary to secure Europe,

Should an AfD-led Germany withdraw from NATO, the alliance would surely collapse, as would an EU without Germany. Instead, a German-Russian alliance would fill Europe’s security vacuum and

German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz on Sunday said he would like talks with France and Britain about sharing their nuclear weapons, but not as a substitute for U.S. nuclear protection of Europe.

Trump considers moving US troops from Germany to Eastern Europe in NATO spending row - Trump is reportedly considering moving the personnel to Hungary

Friedrich Merz, who is poised to become Germany’s next chancellor, has warned Nato could be finished and Europe must prepare to build an alliance “independent” from the US.

A move to Europeanize the top NATO command post could be one way for President Donald Trump to signal he wants the United States to play a smaller role.

Europe is staring down the barrel of a stark new reality where the United States being the backbone of NATO – the alliance that has guaranteed the continent’s security since 1949 for almost 80 years – is no longer a given.