Munich Security Conference: Merz says 'US Lost World Leadership'

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German Chancellor Fredreick Merz at Munich Security Conference spoke of Europe’s autonomy

By TRH World Desk

New Delhi, February 13, 2026 — German Chancellor Fredreick Merz on Friday delivered a sharp message at Munich Security Conference—American leadership of the world is now over. Merz said that China in military terms will be on equal footing with the US in a few years.

In a sharp rebuke to the US under Donald Trump, Merz also slammed the tariff-led coercive policy of Washington. Merz said that Germany believes in free trade.

The German Chancellor also asserted that Europe would build a strong defence architecture. Merz stressed that Germany will raise a strong army. Remarks of Merz came amid deteriorating ties of Europe with the US.

“Russia’s GDP currently amounts to about €2 trillion. That of the European Union is almost ten times as high. And yet today, Europe is not ten times stronger than Russia,” Merz said at the marquee security conclave. He added that “our military, political, economic and technological potential is enormous. But we are still far from exploiting it to the extent necessary.”

Merz argued that “the most important thing now is that we need to flip the switch in our minds. We have understood that in the era of great powers, our freedom is no longer simply a given. It is under threat.”

Merz in a sharp comment on the US under Trump said that “the United States claim to leadership has been challenged and possibly lost.”

Merz suggested that there’s no gains in talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “If it makes sense to talk, we are willing to talk. But, as you can see with the American side, Russia is not yet willing to talk seriously,” added Merz.

The German Chancellor argued that the Ukraine War could end only when “Russia is at least economically, potentially militarily, exhausted.” “I will repeat it today, we will make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe as soon as we can,” added Merz.