German Chancellor Says Europe Must Assert Itself to Protect Peace, Prosperity

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on June 11, 2025. Omer Messinger/Getty ImagesEurope must more forcefully assert itself to ensure peace and prosperity in 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in his New Year’s address to the nation on Dec. 31.Merz picked out a series of challenges facing the continent, including Russian aggression, global protectionism, and shifting ties with the United States.