German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for abandoning his annexation plans for Greenland. “I am very grateful that President Trump has stepped back from his original intention to take over Greenland, and I am also thankful that he has withdrawn his plans to impose additional tariffs on February 1” he said ahead of the informal European Council meeting on Thursday. He added that these developments result from joint efforts between Europe and the United States to find a way forward in tough times, and that unity and determination on the European side can indeed make a difference.
Merz also spoke in favour of preserving NATO, stating that the transatlantic alliance cannot simply be abandoned. “We have built this alliance for over 75 years” the CDU politician remarked, describing it as the most successful political partnership ever between Europe and the United States. He clarified that it is not merely a military alliance but a political one, and while acknowledging Trump’s point that Europeans should contribute more to defence, he defended the alliance’s continued relevance.
