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Latest Breaking News

SouthBayDem

(32,886 posts) Fri Jul 18, 2025, 09:29 AM Jul 18

Germany's Merz tells BBC Europe was free-riding on US

Source: BBC

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has accepted US accusations that Europe was doing too little to fund its own defence and security, but now believes they are on the same page.

"We know we have to do more on our own and we have been free-riders in the past," he told the BBC's Today Programme, "they're asking us to do more and we are doing more."

Merz was in the UK to boost defence ties with Germany, as part of an historic friendship treaty that also aims to tackle irregular migration and promote youth exchanges.

Russia's war with Ukraine has framed the early weeks of his chancellorship, as has US President Donald Trump's threat to impose 30% import tariffs on European Union exports from 1 August.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg6v0pk964o

9 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Germany's Merz tells BBC Europe was free-riding on US (Original Post) SouthBayDem Jul 18 OP

It's a bit blunt, but surely says Europe is accepting the new reality bucolic_frolic Jul 18 #1

Am I being paranoid or is he "bending the knee" to Trump? CTyankee Jul 18 #2

He's being realistic Abnredleg Jul 18 #4

Exactly ... SickOfTheOnePct Jul 18 #5

I find the thought a re-militarized Germany almost as scary JCMach1 Jul 18 #8

Was not free-riding. European stability paid for US economic growth Bernardo de La Paz Jul 18 #3

So they're "going along" for the sake of economic stability and perhaps "hoping for a better POTUS next time"? CTyankee Jul 18 #6

This is true. Dawson Leery Jul 18 #9

Feeding the orange monster Bayard Jul 18 #7

bucolic_frolic

(52,013 posts)

1. It's a bit blunt, but surely says Europe is accepting the new reality

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Fri Jul 18, 2025, 09:41 AM

Jul 18

The US can no longer be counted upon, not in the present at least.

CTyankee

(66,892 posts)

2. Am I being paranoid or is he "bending the knee" to Trump?

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Fri Jul 18, 2025, 09:43 AM

Jul 18

This just scares me.

Abnredleg

(1,142 posts)

4. He's being realistic

Reply to CTyankee (Reply #2)

Fri Jul 18, 2025, 09:49 AM

Jul 18

Europe’s defense lapsed after the Soviet Union dissolved and are now dangerously weak in an era of Russian aggression. We need to support our allies but they do need to step up.

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,351 posts)

5. Exactly ...

Reply to Abnredleg (Reply #4)

Fri Jul 18, 2025, 09:50 AM

Jul 18

...agree on all points.

JCMach1

(28,889 posts)

8. I find the thought a re-militarized Germany almost as scary

Reply to CTyankee (Reply #2)

Fri Jul 18, 2025, 12:42 PM

Jul 18

Yet, here we are.

Japan is next I guess.

Bernardo de La Paz

(57,672 posts)

3. Was not free-riding. European stability paid for US economic growth

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Fri Jul 18, 2025, 09:48 AM

Jul 18

If there had been a big war every twenty years in Europe in the 20 years since 1945, US economy would be a half or a quarter what it is today, with Europe as a market and a supply chain participant.

1914-18 plus 21: 1939-45, ... ? ... 1965-69? ... 1989-1993? ... 2013-2017?