Germany chancellor-in-waiting suggest change for Europe-US relations
Germany chancellor-in-waiting no wan wait for di final results of im kontri election on Sunday to begin a new era in Europe.
Declaring di US indifferent to di continent fate, Friedrich Merz kwesion di future of Nato and demand to make Europe boost dia own defences. Sharpaly.
Dis tone from di close US ally - and from Friedrich Merz wey dey known to be a passionate Atlanticist - bin dey unimaginable even some months ago.
Dis na seismic shift. Even if e dey read like say e dey exaggerate, but wetin we now dey experience in terms of transatlantic relations dey surprising in di 80 years since di end of World War Two.
Big European powers dey shocked to di core by di Trump administration, wey suggest say dem fit revoke di security guarantees to Europe wey dey in place since 1945.
"I no ever tink say I go tok sometin like dis for TV show but, afta Donald Trump remarks last week... e dey clear say dis goment no care much about di fate of Europe," Friedrich Merz tok during a post-election debate on Sunday.
"My absolute priority go be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so dat, step by step, we go really achieve independence from di USA," e add.
Merz hint say di endeavour dey so urgent sotay e no dey sure weda di transatlantic alliance leaders wey dey gada for a summit in June "go still dey tok about Nato in dia current form or weda we get to establish an independent European defence capability much more quickly".
Significantly, di forthcoming chancellor put Donald Trump America on di same level wit Russia - wey widely dey viewed as a security threat to Europe more broadly. "We dey under such massive pressure from two sides wey make my absolute priority now really na to create unity in Europe," Merz tok.
Di UK prime minister go head to Washington on Thursday, following di visit dia on Monday by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Friedrich Merz admit, indirectly, to a sense of Fomo - fear of missing out. By rights Germany suppose dey dia, too, dis week, e tok. Berlin, na one of Europe Big Three powers, alongside France and di UK.
And wit di US and Russia now dey consider bilaterally, about, but no be wit, Ukraine, e feel like a global return to big-power politics.
But Germany don dey MIA [missing in action] for a good while now on di European and di world stage.
Di outgoing goment hia dey weak and distracted by serious internal fight. Dis dey vex German voters - wey want immediate focus on di economy and migration - and European allies, dey demand action on Russia, security and defence.
Merz say a top priority for Germany na to re-engage internationally.
Di kontri already be di second-biggest donor of military aid to Ukraine, afta di US.
Merz wan kontinu dat support, but, unlike France and di UK, e no too like di idea of sending sojas to Ukraine, to back up eventual ceasefire dia.
Based on Germany track record - e don drag dem at evri stage of Ukraine support, and despite dat, end up delivering more aid dan any of dia European neighbours - a 'No' now, no mean a 'No' forever to committing troops or participate in wateva form a European "reassurance force" in Ukraine fit take.
For now, wetin di German sojas dey worry about na di 35,000 American ones, wey dey stationed in dia kontri, wey dey make dem feel safe.
E dey highly unusual for foreign policy to be a top voter concern for election time. But for Germany dis weekend, alongside di economy and migration, voter afta voter say dem dey worry about peace in Europe and feel very insecure.
Back in November, Germany interior ministry say dem dey draw up a list of bunkers wey fit provide emergency shelter for civilians.
Ukraine fit dey far away, but Germans feel at great risk from Russia for two reasons.
Firstly, di amount of military equipment dia kontri don send Ukraine. Di far right, Alternative for Germany (AfD), wit dia "Germany First" slogan, campaign for Berlin to disengage from Kyiv and to re-establish relations wit Russia. A strategy not unlike Donald Trump own, as di party dey fond of pointing out.
Secondly, many in Germany think say if Russia wan really destabilise Europe, e fit dey tempted to strike one of diamonds Big Three wit a long-range missile.
France and di UK na nuclear powers. Germany no follow. Even dia conventional military no get enof staff and no better equipment, so Germany dey fear say dem go be a soft target.
All di more so if President Trump withdraw im active servicemen and women from Germany.
Im don pledge to significantly reduce US troop presence for Europe as a whole.
Di German sense of deep domestic insecurity na im prompt Friedrich Merz to suggest last week say e go look to France and Britain to form a European nuclear umbrella, to replace US nuclear guarantees.
Dis na idea wey dey easy to bring up on di campaign trail, but dat in reality dey hugely complex - involving questions of capabilities, commitment and control.
Di reality check: Friedrich Merz go need a lot of money for im plans to secure Germany and Europe, and Germany economy dey depressed.
E also get to reach agreement with di coalition partner, or partners, wey im go form di next German goment - as well as with oda European countries, like di UK.
And dem fit no want to strike dat kain strong tone against di US.
Dis election fit bring stronger leadership from Germany. But di rest of Europe dey ready?
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