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"World order no longer exists"/ Merz opens Munich Conference: The holiday season for Europe is over, the US wars are not ours!
2026-02-13 17:27:29 / BOTA
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened the Munich Security Conference with a harsh assessment of the international situation, declaring that, contrary to the slogan of this year's conference, the world order is not "collapsing" but "no longer exists."
In his opening remarks, Merz argued that recent events mark the end of what he called “Europe’s long hiatus from world history,” noting that the continent is re-entering an era of fierce geopolitical confrontation, power balances, and conflicts.
The German Chancellor emphasized that the return of great power politics is now the main framework for European policymaking, with an emphasis on deterrence, increased defense spending, and geopolitical competition.
“Our main goal as Europeans and as Germans is to accept this new reality today,” he said. “That does not mean that we accept it as our inevitable fate.”
His remarks came after an informal summit of European Union leaders, at a time when governments across the continent are struggling to formulate a coherent strategy to boost competitiveness and revive industrial sectors.
Merz stressed that Europe is failing to translate its economic weight into geopolitical influence. Russia's GDP is around 2 trillion euros, he noted, while the European Union's economy is almost ten times larger.
"And yet, Europe is not acting ten times stronger," he said, describing the gap as the continent's main strategic weakness.
'A deep rift' with the United States
Merz spoke of a "deep divide" that has opened up between Europe and the United States, pointing to growing differences on a political and trade level.
"The US culture wars are not ours. And we don't believe in tariffs and protectionism, we believe in free trade," he said, in one of the most direct descriptions of today's transatlantic tensions.
Warning about China and the nuclear issue
The Chancellor also warned of the rise of China, estimating that “within a few years” Beijing is likely to surpass the United States in military power. As he put it, “the US claim to leadership is on the brink of collapse, perhaps already lost.”
In his speech, Merz revealed that he had discussed the possibility of a European nuclear deterrent with French President Emmanuel Macron.
"I discussed a European nuclear deterrent with Emmanuel Macron," he said, touching on one of the most sensitive issues in the European security architecture.
His mention is linked to discussions about how Europe can strengthen its strategic defenses amid uncertainty about long-term security guarantees from the United States. France has the only fully independent nuclear arsenal in Europe.
Message to Beijing before the visit
Merz's statements also set out the stance he is expected to take during his first visit to China as chancellor later this month. Despite acknowledging Beijing's growing power, he made clear that the new geopolitical reality would not lead Berlin "to embrace China."
He noted that Beijing systematically uses other countries' dependencies to its advantage. He recalled that the German automotive industry was almost at a standstill last year when China imposed restrictions on the export of rare-earth magnets, which are used in critical components throughout the value chain.
The Chancellor is expected to raise the issue of export restrictions as a key sticking point in his talks with the Chinese leadership, calling for clearer rules and greater predictability in trade relations.
In his speech in Munich, Friedrich Merz tried to outline a more realistic and convincing European strategy in a world where, as he argued, the old international order is already gone.
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